2022 Opus One, Napa Valley
Professional consensus: 92–97 points. Standout scores include 97 Decanter, 96 James Suckling, 96 Jane Anson, 95 Wine Advocate, 94 Jeb Dunnuck, and 92 Vinous & Wine Spectator.
Tasting profile: Rich and polished, with cassis, blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry and plum, layered with rose petal, violet, rosemary, sandalwood, graphite, cedar, tobacco, cocoa and espresso. Full-bodied and plush, yet lifted by bright acidity and finely grained, velvety tannins. The finish is long, savory, mineral-driven and elegant.
The 2022 blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 0.5% Malbec, aged 18 months in French oak. Despite the challenging heat of the vintage, critics consistently found impressive freshness and balance.
Bottom line: A superb, highly collectible Opus One—powerful but surprisingly graceful, with the structure and concentration to reward substantial cellaring. Wine Advocate suggests 2026–2040, while other critics see it developing well into the 2030s and beyond.
James Suckling 96 Points
Generous, with savory aromas of ripe blackcurrants and fresh black cherries and a gentle texture that shows a slight nip of tannin. It is well structured and a bit tight, which is normal for a young cabernet sauvignon-based red that’s a proven collectible. Gives up graphite and pencil shavings, some cocoa and espresso. Full-bodied. Spicy, toasty oak is really showing through right now.
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
The 2022 Opus One shows the sunny, perfumed style of the vintage. Black raspberries, smoked tobacco, incense, and spicy wood notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. I’ve been lucky enough to do many retrospectives of this wine, so I have no doubt it will evolve gracefully for a solid two decades.
Wine Spectator 92 Points
Shows a lighter-bodied, fresher profile than most in this vintage, with a mix of red currant, damson plum and cherry coulis notes stitched with savory, tobacco and rose petal accents. There’s a subtle cedar shading through the finish, with a flicker of iron at the tail end. Takes a modest approach to escape most of the pitfalls of this extreme vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2027 through 2037. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
