Rich black fruit, rose stems, and earthy forest floor aromas blend harmoniously in the Opus One 2017. The smooth, silky mouthfeel of the fruity entrance is balanced by just enough acidity to suit the satin texture. Black cassis, black cherry, and a trace of chocolate powder characterize this delicious wine. The velvety, fine-grained tannins lead to a lengthy, supple finish.

80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 1% Malbec

Decanter:

A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry, and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the rich character that proves Opus can give balance and sculpted elegance even in a hot vintage like 2017. Beautiful grip, creamy texture, with a tannic frame that is surprisingly forceful. The floral aromatics in the wine begin to bloom as it sits in the glass. A magnificent opus.

Maceration time is 20 days, which is about half of what it would have been a decade ago.

As part of their native yeast project, they used 54 percent natural yeast. The blend is completed with 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Harvest took place from September 5 to October 8, right before the fires, with fewer than 10% of the fruit still on the vines at the time. 3.7pH