OPUS ONE
2014
The 2014 Opus One is not as showy or obvious as some of the other surrounding vintages, but it will have its day. Stylistically, the 2014 is bright and also a touch linear, with a construction built more on focus rather than opulence. Readers should plan on giving the 2014 another few years in bottle at a minimum. The mid-weight style is a bit Old World-leaning in this striking, super-classic Opus One. Drinking range: 2022 - 2039 Rating: 96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Dec 2018)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2014 vintage was precocious – marked by the earliest bud break in our history. Timely rainfall and a continuation of mild and dry conditions throughout the year allowed the grapevines to support the slightly higher-than-expected yields. Following a near-perfect growing season, harvest commenced on September 5th just as the grapes reflected an ideal balance between freshness and concentration. After an early rainstorm, there was a brief pause; but the succinct harvest was completed on October 7th.
The 2014 Opus One exudes subtle aromas of fragrant florals, fresh garden herbs and forest floor that give way to a concentrated blend of red cherry, blackberry and black currant. After a silky entry, dark fruit flavors emerge with hints of baking spice and black olive. Fine-grained tannins offer a velvety texture and complex structure that builds to a long, vibrantly fresh finish with a touch of mocha. Enjoyable now, the wine will delight for years to come.
The 2014 Opus One is a blend of all five Bordeaux-heritage varieties: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Component lots received an average of 20 days of skin contact during fermentation and maceration, prior to 18 months of barrel aging in new French Oak.Winemaker's notes (Sept 2017)
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec. Aged for 18 months in new French barriques. Savoury nose. Very lifted and almost leafy - very far from a fruit bomb. Very much a food wine. Very, very different from wine bar syrup. Not obviously high alcohol. After pretty ripe cassis some black olive flavours dominate. Rather bordeaux-like build but with a richer finish than a bordeaux would have. Obviously there's a fair amount of tannin here but it's well handled and dominated by the fruit. Good peacock's tail finish. I could imagine some Americans asking 'where's the beef (stew)?' but this should definitely appeal to (well heeled) Europeans. Drinking range: 2017 - 2033 Rating: 17+ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Aug 2017)
Mesmerizing aromas of flowers, bark, currants and blackberries. So perfumed. You just want to smell it. Exquisite tension and finesse with an almost Burgundian texture, yet it’s Napa in its soul with ripe fruit, stones, spices and Chinese tea leaf flavors. Savory and delicious. Drinkable but better in 2020. Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Jun 2017)
The 2014 Opus One has turned out to be a gorgeous wine. Savory, tightly wound and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is going to need time to unwind, but it looks like it will develop along the more classic vintages here. The tannins are firm but also impeccably balanced. A sleeper wine for the year, the 2014 is shaping up to be a gorgeous wine that will handsomely repay several decades of cellaring. The 2014 is not an obvious Opus One, like the 2010, 2012 or 2013, but over time, I will not be surprised if it challenges or even surpasses some of those vintages. In short, the 2014 is a wine of tension, power and grace. Drinking range: 2024 - 2044 Rating: 95+ Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Dec 2016)
Opus One
Opus One winery was founded as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. The 1979 and 1980 vintages were simultaneously unveiled in 1984 as Opus One's first release. Opus One then became known as America's first ultra-premium wine. In 1982 Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild began label design. The partners agreed to choose a name of Latin origin for the joint venture, allowing for easy recognition in both English and French. Baron Philippe announced his choice, "Opus," a musical expression denoting the first masterwork of a composer. Two days later he proposed an additional word: "Opus One". The vineyard consists of 69 hectares planted closely around the winery on the St Helena Highway, in the Oakville sub-region, at a density of 6310 vines per hectare. The wine is vinified in stainless steel, and aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months, and then another 18 months in bottle before release - at 3 years after the harvest.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond' (excluding duty paid and VAT).
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price sits within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
You can register your interest via the online wishlist form, by emailing privateclients@leaandsandeman.co.uk, or by calling 020 7221 1982. All wishlist requests are subject to availability and final confirmation. Inevitably, some wines will have to be allocated but please do not let that deter you from asking. We will do our best to satisfy all requests.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date.
Invoices are raised at in bond prices. Duty and VAT invoices will be raised on request when the wines land in the UK.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We reserve the right to levy a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant Storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other in bond deliveries are free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1,000. Orders below this total will be charged at £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchase from this offer, not a per-case charge. Please inform us of in bond delivery addresses and account details at the time of ordering.
- If the wines are required duty paid we will issue invoices at prevailing rate of duty and VAT when the wines arrive in the UK.
- The wines will become available by the end of the year and should be shipped very early next year.