But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially. Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world. Lots of ripe tannin tucked away on the finish. ![]() great sweetness without too much alcohol (though a little heat on the finish). The dense core of fruit pushes through a front of rustic graphite 17Jancis Robinson 93Wine SpectatorĪ Pauillac-like expression.smoky, toasty oak from the get-go, framing the intense flavors of earth, crushed rock and gravelly dried dark berry. Racy and forward, yet classically mid-weight in structure. Sweet red cherry, hard candy, raspberry wild flowers and cinnamon are some of the notes that grace the palate. supple and radiant throughout, with gorgeous suppleness and purity to the flavors. They have continued to strengthen the quality of wine and seem to have produced a brilliant, world-class wine. This Pauillac lookalike, made by the staff at Mouton Rothschild, is a beauty. Tight and compacted tannins with beautiful fruit and great length. Full body with seamless tannins and balance. Hints of mint too, plus hazelnut and chocolate. Drink now through 2028.Glorious purity of fruit here with black currants, blueberries, dark chocolate, fresh herbs and forest floor. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. Finishes with a long, layered aftertaste. The dense core of fruit pushes through a front of rustic graphite and loamy earth. On the palate this remains a very polished, comparatively open-knit rendition of Opus One, but again, savoury dimensions are developing which augment its complexity, and its spine of acidity seems rather more refreshingly present.Ī Pauillac-like expression from Napa Valley, this features smoky, toasty oak from the get-go, framing the intense flavors of earth, crushed rock and gravelly dried dark berry. The 2012 Opus is developing nicely in bottle, and some additional complexity has already emerged to complement its Rubenesque fruit: its lavish blackberry and mulberry aromas are now married with emerging nuances of tobacco leaf, rich soil, graphite and dark spice. I imagine the 2013 may even eclipse this, but this 2012 is one of their great ones, with a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol and wood all present in this beautiful, full-bodied wine that should drink well for 25-30 years. A classy, complex, suave and savory 2012 Opus One, with notes of toasty oak and crème de cassis. The iconic 2012 Proprietary Red Opus One is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot and 2% Malbec aged 18 months in French oak. This is 79% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, 6% merlot, 6% petit verdot and 2% malbec. Hard not to drink now but better in 2018. ![]() ![]() ![]() Glorious purity of fruit here with black currants, blueberries, dark chocolate, fresh herbs and forest floor. This refined and age-worthy wine simultaneously offers a long lingering finish, with lively acidity and a sturdy structure at the close.īlend: Cabernet Sauvignon 79%, Cabernet Franc 7%, Petit Verdot 6%, Merlot 6% and Malbec 2% The wine's round mouthfeel and satiny tannins wrap around classic flavors of cassis,blackberry and black cherry. The 2012 Opus One effuses fresh dark fruit aromas accentuated by subtler notes of forest-floor and graphite.
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