OPUS ONE 1980 750ML

99 Points! Decanter. This is the second ever vintage of Opus One, tasted with Steven Spurrier at the Opus One offices in Bordeaux. Maybe that made the tasting even more special, but the wine absolutely sang. The director of the office, Laurent Delassus, spoke about how Opus owes a debt to Spurrier's Judgement of Paris for the creation of the estate, as it gave Baron Philippe de Rothschild the confidence to go into partnership with Robert Mondavi: 'The smart French winemakers weren't angry but became interested after the tasting in the potential of California'. It was a cool growing season for Napa, and that freshness has clearly helped this age. Still so young, it has warmth and generosity in the fruits but remains balanced and nuanced - a knockout wine. It's the kind of wine that, even before the first glass is halfway down, you are thinking 'I hope there's more of this