Clearly more concentrated than the 2011, showcasing espresso, liquorice, bitter black chocolate, mint leaf, blackcurrant, cassis, blood orange, velvety tannins. This captures the exuberance of Napa tempered by the restraint of Opus and will power for decades. Great balance, great stuff, hard not to fall in love with. 100% new oak for ageing, Michael Silacci director, harvest September 21 to October 20, 18 days skin contact.

The iconic 2012 Proprietary Red Opus One is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot and 2% Malbec aged 18 months in French oak. A classy, complex, suave and savory 2012 Opus One, with notes of toasty oak and crème de cassis. This Pauillac lookalike, made by the staff at Mouton Rothschild, is a beauty. They have continued to strengthen the quality of wine and seem to have produced a brilliant, world-class wine. I imagine the 2013 may even eclipse this, but this 2012 is one of their great ones, with a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol and wood all present in this beautiful, full-bodied wine that should drink well for 25-30 years.

It's obviously very early, but the 2012 Opus One is one of the bigger, darker wines of the vintage at this stage. Tar, smoke, licorice and black fruit are some of the many notes than inform this muscular, deeply pitched Opus One. It will be interesting to see if time attenuates some of the wine's pure unbridled power.

Deep, glowing crimson. Complex, pretty perfume with some purple fruit (cassis more than anything else), a hint of game but overlaying it all great sweetness without too much alcohol (though a little heat on the finish). Very concentrated and flattering. Lots of ripe tannin tucked away on the finish. Much sweeter than a bordeaux would be but not sickly. Hint of something powdery/smoky on the finish. (JR)