Opus One 2009

The 2009 Opus One is impeccable. It brings together the silkiness of the 2007 with the power and darkness of the 2008, a combination that is hugely appealing, to say the least. With a little air, the 2009 can be enjoyed young, but it is best cellared for at least a few years, which will allow some of the baby fat to drop off. The blend is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 1% Malbec.

Very deep garnet in color, the 2009 Opus One is a tad closed to begin, offering glimpses at baked plums, dried blackberries, and stewed cherries, plus wafts of balsamic, dried herbs, and new leather. The palate is full-bodied, firm, and chewy, with plenty of black fruits and savory flavors, finishing a little rustic.

(a blend of 81% cabernet sauvignon, 9% cabernet franc, 5% petit verdot, 4% merlot and 1% malbec): Full medium ruby. Wild, flamboyantly expressive aromas of black raspberry, crystallized blackberry, smoke, leather, licorice, bitter chocolate and cedar, lifted by violet and spices. Smooth, mouthfilling and decidedly dry, with a lightly dusty character to its flavors of dark fruits, minerals and game. The broad, very long finish features building tannins. Quite different in style from the higher-pitched 2008, which was tighter and more floral at the same stage of its evolution.

2009 was a cooler vintage, and that’s reflected in the complex bass notes of black olive and tobacco which inflect this Opus One’s bouquet of dark fruit, chocolate and licorice; supple and polished on the palate, this wine has more of a savoury edge to its tannic profile than riper years such as 2007. Cabernet Sauvignon only makes up 81% of the blend here, complemented by fully 9% Cabernet Franc, a variety that plays an increasing role at Opus.Drink: 2016-35