Opus One 2012 Napa Valley (1.5L, 14%)

Opus One 2012 is a Napa Valley red blend from California, here in a 1.5 litre magnum. It is built mainly on Cabernet Sauvignon at 79%, with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec completing the blend. The grapes had an average of 18 days of skin contact during fermentation and maceration, followed by 18 months in new French oak. The wine was bottled a year and a half before its release. The nose shows fresh dark fruit with forest floor and graphite. On the palate it is round, with satiny tannins around cassis, blackberry and black cherry. The finish is long, with lively acidity and a sturdy structure.