90-94 / 100
Noncontractual photograph
Vintage | 1994 |
Rating | 90-94 |
Region | Napa Valley |
Appellation | Napa Valley |
Colour | Red |
Volume | 0.75 l |
Price | From 200 € to 300 € |
Château | Opus One |
Country | USA - Californie |
CHÂTEAU LES QUINTS DE CANTEGRIL 1994
Sauternes
DOMAINE THENARD Ile des Vergelesses 1994
Pernand Vergelesses
Saint Joseph
Pomerol
Hermitage Rouge
Pauillac
PAUL JABOULET AINE La Chapelle 1994
Hermitage Rouge
CAVE COOPERATIVE TAIN L'HERMITAGE Les Nobles Rives
Crozes Hermitage
Saint Emilion
Pomerol
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 rubypurple 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.
Heaven knows, or perhaps the winemaker does, what the Malbec adds. Good, deep, impressive appearance; Bordeaux-like cedar nose, sweet, very scented; a powerhouse, far too immature even to taste. Overall dry, crisp, fruit dominany, long trajectory. I presume a long life.