Opus One seems to be one of those wines that can start an argument in three comments, so I tried to do this the most boring/responsible way possible: taste multiple vintages side-by-side and focus on what’s actually in the glass.
Today’s mini-vertical: 2012 / 2019 / 2022.
Photos are the vineyard view + barrel room + the flight cards.
My ORIGINAL tasting notes are in a pinned comment (not copy/pasting the winery card text).
Two questions:
- In a super-polished Napa “Bordeaux-style” blend, what cues help you separate true vintage character from house style / winemaking sheen?
- For a very young vintage like 2022, what are you looking for to judge structure + potential (without defaulting to “too young”)?
Be gentle—or don’t. 🙂
by JellyZealousideal734
1 Comment
**ORIGINAL tasting notes (side-by-side, revisited as they opened up):**
**2012**
**Aromas:** darker fruit leaning toward cassis/black cherry; more cedar/tobacco vibe starting to peek through
**Palate:** feels “settled” and integrated; tannins smoother/rounder; overall more composed than loud
**Impression:** reads as the most complete wine right now—more about balance than impact.
**2019**
**Aromas:** cleaner/brighter black fruit; more lift; oak spice more noticeable to me
**Palate:** more drive and structure; firmer tannins; feels built for time
**Impression:** the most “serious/structured” of the lineup—most obviously age-worthy.
**2022**
**Aromas:** lots of primary fruit; very fresh; everything feels turned up and youthful
**Palate:** plush + energetic; tannins present but not harsh; finish feels more about fruit/energy than complexity (for now)
**Impression:** impressive young power, but I struggled separating “youthful intensity” from “future nuance.”
**Personal surprise:** I expected the youngest to be all show, but I kept thinking about **2019’s structure** vs **2012’s integration** as the two ends of the spectrum.
Curious how others interpret these three, and what you taste *first* when trying to decide “this is the vintage talking” vs “this is the Opus signature.”