“ This offering has the Yellow Brick Road paved all over it. The vintages truly reflect how time and place evolve and respected. From Classic Opus One to Pure Oakville to the very challenging and rewarding 2010 Opus One – this offering is seamless. We left no fingerprints on the glass, nor footprints in the vineyard.”

~ Michael Silacci, Opus One Winemaker

The comparison of Napa Valley to Bordeaux has long been a hot topic of conversation among wine aficionados, and in some cases has provoked considerable heated debate.

However, with the introduction of Napa Valley’s Opus One in the mid-1980s, two of the wine industries most important families joining forces suggested that a bridge between the two iconic wine growing regions had finally been built.

The idea for Opus One was first conceived in 1970 following a chance meeting in Hawaii between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild and Robert Mondavi of Napa Valley. Rothschild had supposedly been considering a venture in the New World for some time and found in Mondavi his ideal collaborator.

In 1978, the two titans reconvened in Bordeaux at Chateau Mouton-Rothschild for a meeting that is said to have lasted just one hour. It was during that meeting that Mondavi and Rothschild established the principles on which Opus One would be founded – an equal partnership between the two companies with a focus on making one wine; a Bordeaux-style blend that would be produced using Napa Valley grapes and vinified by their respective French and American winemakers working side-by-side.

According to “Napa Valley Then & Now,” by esteemed wine writer Kelli White, the project was originally supposed to be named “NAPAMEDOC,” however in 1982 they retitled their endeavor, “Opus One” – which by definition is the first great work of a composer.

The first release of Opus One came in 1984 with both the 1979 and 1980 bottlings being offered simultaneously.

For the first 12 vintages, the wine would be made in Oakville at the Robert Mondavi winery by Tim Mondavi (Robert’s son), in collaboration with Mouton Winemakers Lucien Sionneau and Patrick Léon. Fruit for the wine has always been harvested from the Valley’s famed Oakville region, with the majority of grapes coming specifically from the legendary To Kalon Vineyard, within which Opus owns 100-acres. The remaining portion of fruit is harvested from 70-acres of estate-owned land just across the street on the eastern side of Oakville. Dubbed the Ballestra and River parcels, these vines surround the now iconic Opus One winery which was constructed in 1991.

In 2001, Michael Silacci joined Opus One as Director of Viticulture and Enology. He would eventually be named Winemaker in January 2004, taking on responsibility for all aspects of viticulture and winemaking.

Prior to his appointment at Opus One, Silacci spent six years as Winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, one year as Winemaker at King Estate in Oregon, and six years at Beaulieu Vineyard in Rutherford. He has also made wine in France and Chile.

Since his arrival in Oakville, Michael has become one of Napa Valley’s most respected winemakers, in part because of the technological advances he has made in the Opus One winery, but more importantly because of the high-quality age-worthy wine he has been producing vintage after vintage.

Opus One is a true Bordeaux-style blend comprised of all five heritage varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Once the fruit is harvested and processed into the winery, the juice is left to macerate on its skins for less than 20 days. This period of time was greater pre-2010, however, Silacci has worked to cap maceration at just under 3 weeks in an effort to achieve greater balance and finesse in the wine.

Juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks before being aged in 100% new French oak barrels anywhere between 22-24 months. All barrels are assembled by hand at the winery; a unique process that serves to elevate Silacci’s level of quality control.

Having worked the floor as a Sommelier at PRESS in St. Helena for the better part of two years, I have had the honor and pleasure of tasting more than a handful of vintages of this legendary wine. From that experience, I can tell you that these are some of the more elegant, balanced, and long-lived wines I have ever had the opportunity to taste.

That signature Oakville profile, defined by dark fruit such as blackberry, black cherry and cassis, finds its balance within the framework of forest floor, cedar, tobacco, and dried herbs. The palate often shines with black and blue fruit showing on the forefront but finishes on savory spice and freshness.

Age undoubtedly does this wine well, and I honestly believe, if treated correctly, there is no end to the life of this iconic wine. It only further develops and further improves.

That all being said, I am honored today to bring you an exclusive one-of-a-kind vertical Library 6-pack of Opus One, with vintage representation from 2005-2010.

These wines are coming winery direct and have not been moved since being bottled at their home in Oakville. In addition, each year’s release is typically bottled in 6-pack wood boxes with the vintage burned onto the wood, however, the winery has custom-packaged these verticals exclusively for this Mayacama offer.

I cannot express to you how excited I am about this allocation and so I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions regarding the quality of these vintages.

Only 6 of these custom 6-packs are available and so if this is something you are interested in, please place your order sooner rather than later.

As always, thank you for your support.

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg - Wine Director

Vertical 6-Pack, 2005 - 2010 | $3,500

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