In Bond Fine Wine. 2023 Mondavi & Rothschild Opus One, Oakville, California, USA. Red usa-california in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 98/100 (JA). Drinking window: 2026–2053. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Originally a joint venture of the Rothschild family of Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi, marrying the power and richness of Napa fruit with the elegance of Bordeaux. This Californian First Growth is hot property every vintage on release and when available.
Colin Hay (CH) — 100/100 · Drinks Business, 2026-08-01
Divine aromatically and utterly ethereal. We’re in the laboratory at the back of the florists where the florist is concocting and concentrating the floral essences to preserve their purity and we have the fresh petals alongside. Violet, lily of the valley, a little wild thyme and the hint of coolness that imparts. So gracious, the tannins so filigree in texture. Intensely layered. Ample in frame,…
Decanter (DEC) — 98/100 · Decanter.com, 2026-08-01
The bouquet is utterly enticing, offering cool blue-fruit notes and a dusting of cocoa-powder freshness that stirs anticipation for the first sumptuous sip. On the palate, satiny richness unfolds, imbued with crunchy red cherry and juicy blackberry fruit, alongside refined sagebrush and tobacco nuances. There is a sense of intricately fine-knit tannins – compact yet impressively integrated at thi…
Jane Anson (JA) — 98/100 · JaneAnson.com, 2026-07-01 · Drink 2026-2048
A measured, balanced growing season, dry but without the heat spikes of 2022, and this Opus is a pretty stately beast, deep rich purple, intense, structured, edges of violet set against black fruits, cassis, bilberry, damson. This is one of the slowest unrolls that I have had with Opus, it rewards patience to showcase the chalk and slate texture of the tannins, and you can safely put this away fo…