2002 vintage. Nice fill, good cork. Decanted with a respectable amount of powdery sed. Smelled great during decanting. Tasted 1.5 hours after opening/decanting. Expected light body with delicate tendrils. Medium body with a light palate footprint. Holy shazzbaat. This was absolutely firing. Like top of the pops, straight up to number one. Exceptional knitting and in a perfect spot now. Go all the way back to the inaugural 1982 vintage with this winery’s cabernet…thought my all-time fave was the 1991 altho the 1986 and 1987 were special. The 2020, picked early, thus avoiding the fires, is phenomenal as well. This was on another level and have had approx 150 bottles of Spottswoode Cab in the last three + decades. It was probably the best out of all of them. Difficult to imagine Napa Cab better than this. Power and finesse on display. Not improving but can hold this intensity for another 4-5 years. 12.24.24. — 7 months ago
Tasting notes during visit to the winery where absolutely everything is done in-house by hand; preserving centuries old winemaking traditions. In the Tondonia offering one can really appreciate the time and patience dedicated to crafting this wine. The wine evolves to a rustic yet graceful profile with strong notes of dark berries with slight oak and dark chocolate. On the palate the wine is bliss, medium bodied, fully integrated, with balanced acidity and a long finish.
The juice is fermented in old large wooden “tinas,” then transferred to American oak barrels (made in house to medium toast specifications), stored underground in their +100 year old cellars for at least a year. After that it is bottled and stored in the same underground cellars and finally released about ten years later. Learning about their curated winemaking process was inspiring. — 4 months ago
Had the 2019, 2021 and 2015. At opus. 2019 and 2021 still need some time in the bottle! 2015 was 👌🏼 — 9 months ago
Deep purple color. Aromas of raspberry, cherry cola and cedar. This one is still young and a little tight- definitely needs more time or decanting. Very good flavors of red fruit, spices and oak finish.
95.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.1% Merlot, 1.4% Cabernet Franc, 0.7% Petit Verdot, 0.6% Malbec
🏅94 Points- Decanter — 3 months ago
I think Produttori’s langhe is one of all time best values every year and this is no exception. This has great red and a smidge of purple fruit. Tannins are quite present but with a bit of air they fall into balance (though this could certainly take time). Excellent pairing with a simple but high quality pork chop. Very nice acid on the finish. Really enjoyable. — 6 months ago
Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. This bottle of 2006 was throwing a ton of sediment. Showing mostly red fruits with red currants, new leather, tobacco, earth, forest floor, baking spices…a touch green. Hello Cabernet Franc!! Good structure. The finish is long. Every time I have the opportunity to enjoy Sassicaia, I am reminded why it’s one of the great wines of Italy. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Drink now through 2036. — 9 months ago
Freddy R. Troya
Opus One – Overture Red Blend N/V 🍷
A symphonic second wine by Opus One, this multi-vintage blend (2014, 2015, 2016) was acquired in 2019, right before the shift toward vintage-specific releases like the 2021 onwards.
Crafted primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this bottle reflects Napa’s grandeur with flexibility in blending and extended time in barrel, allowing for elegance, depth, and harmony to shine through.
👃 Aromatics open with expressive layers of ripe cherry, red currant, and a fresh, youthful lift of red fruit.
👄 On the palate: a beautifully rounded texture, woven with earthy cocoa, mahogany, and subtle vanilla. Silky tannins and a graceful structure speak of its extra time in oak, building toward a soft yet persistent finish.
Overall mouthfeel: Plush, polished, and deeply enjoyable. The structure and spice make it ideal for grilled meats, braised dishes, or contemplative sipping.
A timeless expression, not just a second label, but a well-composed tribute to the artistry of Mondavi & Rothschild, and a celebration of Napa’s capacity to age with finesse. 🥂 — 2 days ago