Other vintages

This is an impressive effort from Opus One. The wine, a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, and 1% Malbec, possesses a dark ruby/purple color, followed by a generous, complex nose of lead pencil, toasty oak, violets, and black currants. In the mouth, there is a beautiful texture, soft, generous, low acid, full-bodied richness, and a stunningly proportioned, rich, intense finish. The influence of 18 months in new French oak casks gives the wine a subtle oaky note in addition to giving it excellent delineation. Because of the wine's softness and generosity, it can be drunk now as well as over the next 18-20 years.

A subtle, elegant, understated style, very Bordeaux-like in its range of flavors, with rich currant, anise and a hot brick wall of earthiness. The tannins are still big and chewy, but there's a lot of complexity, depth and persistence to the flavors.--California Cabernet '74/'84/'94 retrospective. Drink now through 2009.