![]() Large price tags, and small ones for that matter, are not necessarily indications of quality. Once again, I’ve not judge a book by it’s cover. I could get a plane ticket to Chicago for that much money. Ironically if the prices were reversed, I would have gladly paid $245 for the Cakebread bottle. And while I’ve never really loved Steinways, despite their exorbitantly large price tag, I realize the same goes for Opus One. Opus One is for wine what Steinways are for pianos. This bottle made me realize something very important. Words could not express the joy I felt as I drank it. It was pretty much, hands down, the best wine I’ve ever had. ![]() Big and savory yet the tannins were soft. But after the Opus One was finished, he opened the Cakebread cab and it must have been touched by the hand of God. It was spicy with hints of tobacco It was a pretty amazing glass. On his big day, I had a glass from 1995 and it was wonderful. I enjoyed it so much, I bought one as a gift for my uncle’s birthday. The first time I tried an Opus One, I really enjoyed it. Suffice it to say these are not bottles I purchase myself for an evening at home with a book. Today, current bottles of Cakebread Cellars’ Benchland Select run $115 a bottle and Opus One bottles run for $245. He brought out a bottle of Opus One and a bottle of Cakebread from the 1995 vintage. When I was about 20, my aunt and uncle would offer me wine and I fell madly in love.įor my uncle’s 70th birthday, he took out a few of his special bottles to celebrate. Since they were only 1.5 hours away from Napa, they have an extensive collection from the region. They spent much of the 1990’s and 2000’s collecting wines from all over the world. Growing up, my aunt and uncle were big wine collectors. Cakebread Cellars was a relatively small winery (at the time) and had not expanded to what it is today. Opus One is the lovechild of Robert Mondavi and the Rothchilds. 1995 Cakebread Cellars Benchland Selectġ995 was a great year for Napa Valley grapes and several beautiful wines were made with the bounty. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best.1995 Opus One vs. The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of four parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA in Napa Valley. It remains an ongoing testament to the founders’ vision of a singular wine that transcends generations. Rising gracefully from the vineyards, Opus One winery stands in subtle celebration of the land and the open space that surrounds the estate. Guided by the vision of our founders, winemaker Michael Silacci combines intuition and technical acumen with the dual perspective of viticulturist and winemaker. From tasting berries to careful sorting and extended aging in new French oak barrels, each stage of the winemaking process is afforded the same meticulous consideration and attention. After 18 months, the Opus One wine is bottled and held an additional 15 months until release on October 1st each year. Place, often defined as terroir, represents the geography, the climate and the essential human element which is captured in the wine’s balance between power and finesse, structure and texture. ![]() The essence of time is expressed in Opus One wine by the character of each vintage. The facial profile of the two founders is visible on their iconic label. Producing luxury wines from its Napa Valley vineyards, the partnership made its first vintage in 1979 and has made wine at Opus One since 1991. Opus One is a partnership founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, France, and renowned Napa Valley vintner, Robert Mondavi. Learn about Opus One, it’s history, the winery and the wine.
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