Brand New to Market: Opus One 2012
Offer: Opus One 2012. £1,750 (First Release Price)
Since adding Opus One 2010 to our clients’ portfolios in the spring of 2014, starting the journey at £1,800, we have seen steady progress. The 2010 vintage performed well – which is why we’re so excited by the latest offering from this top-of-the-range American producer. The Opus One 2012 is just in, and with similar reviews and ratings as the 2010 vintage – we think it looks set to impress.
The winery
Opus One is an American winery based in Oakville, California. It was established in 1982 as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild, of Mouton Rothschild fame, and Robert Mondavi, California’s most renowned vineyard operator. It has since risen to become among the leading Napa cult wines, and ranks nowadays among the most sought after wines in the world.
The winery produces two main wine vintages. The Opus One is that which will have the most interest in the fine wine investments market, with the second wine, Overture, usually being sold for around £100 a bottle.
Opus One past and present
Our interest in the 2010 stemmed from the fact that it was the highest scoring Opus One ever, with an admirable 96 points from both Parker and Suckling. The highest scoring until now, that is: the 2012 – brand new to the market this week – has pipped the 2010 with 97 points from Suckling.
And even better, the price sits where the 2010 did two years ago – under £1,800 per case of 12. There’s every chance that it could rise at the same rate, or perhaps even faster than the 2010 vintage has managed.
This wine will slowly trickle onto the market over coming weeks, but we’ve been lucky enough to secure the first 10 cases at the opening (and, we think, highly seductive) price of £1,750/12.
Buy the Opus One 2012 vintage and other London wine investments
As James Suckling put it in July 2015, when awarding the wine its 97 points: The latest offering features a fairly glorious purity of fruit, with aromas of blackcurrants, blueberries, dark chocolate, fresh herbs and forest floor. In short, it’s a full bodied flavour with seamless tannins and balance. It’s almost certainly one of the best Opus offerings in years.
Tempting as it might be to sample this immediately, it’ll likely be better in 2018. The entire stock of 2012 Opus One wines consists of about 79 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 per cent Cabernet Franc, 6 per cent Merlot, 6 per cent Petit Verdot and 2 per cent Malbec.
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Published September 2015