2010 Opus One, Napa Valley, California, USA rhone with incense and liquorice

with incense and liquorice

This is the stuff of dreams

One of the finest wines of the vintage

with racy acids and a searingly chalky finish

2010 Opus One, Napa Valley, California, USA rhone with incense and liquoriceVery much a young wine in its primary stage, this is silky and powerful and tasted excellent during this vertical, despite 2010 being an extremely difficult vintage for winemaker Michael Silacci. The year got off to a cool start, followed by a heatwave the grapes at Opus escaped the shrivelling that much of Napa saw because of leaf cover. There are still plenty of signposts towards a hot summer olive paste, rosemary, garrigue and liquorice notes,