Blackberry, cassis, and black cherry notes abound in the Opus One 2018. Violets, white pepper, and rose petals are among the elegant notes that follow, resulting in a sensuous fragrance. The flavors are perfectly built, culminating in a crescendo of fresh and luscious black fruit with touches of orange zest, licorice, and dark chocolate. The smooth round tannins and fresh acidity combine to create a soft, creamy mouthfeel and stretch the flavors into a long, persistent finish, which is beautifully balanced.

84 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec

Decanter:

Right out of the bottle, the 2018 Opus One is exceedingly refined and exquisite. Silky tannins and elevated, fragrant aromatics contribute to a sense of elegance that sets the 2018 apart from some of the previous vintages.nWith some time in the bottle, it will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains body. It's unusual for Opus One to be so personable at this point in their career.