Winemaker Notes
The 1992 Opus One has inviting, rich aromas, an intense berry character and firm, polished tannins. Typical of past vintages, the 1992 has excellent balance, concentrated flavors, elegance on the finish and great ageability.
Blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Still evident power and concentration running through the body of the wine, although salinity and soft cedar on the finish takes it into a more tertiary feel. An enjoyable see-saw between young and old, this feels firm and bright in what was an early harvest year. 38 days skin contact.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe and succulent, this still has some plumpness to its core, with red currant, plum and cherry notes woven tightly together, flanked with singed apple wood and sandalwood notes, while racy sanguine and iron threads run underneath. Rock solid.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1992 Opus One, a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Merlot, offers a beautiful dark ruby/purple color, a big, spicy nose of cassis, lead pencil, and smoky oak, round, full-bodied, broad, fat flavors crammed with black fruits, soft tannin, low acidity, and a fleshy, full-bodied finish. This rich wine confirms just how fine these wines have become since the 1990 vintage.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.