The Ultimate 2021 Opus One Vintage Primer

(Updated October 1, 2024)

When it comes to wine, Opus One is synonymous with luxury, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance.  The 2021 vintage release showcases the exceptional quality and meticulous attention to detail that define Opus One.

While this may sound like a brochure for a high-end luxury car, like an S-Class Mercedes Benz, there’s no other way to convey the precision and excellence that Opus embodies. In fact, after attending a pre-release tasting, we found that this story goes beyond luxury—Opus One is more like the fine-tuned engineering of a spacecraft.

At the tasting, we learned that Michael Silacci, Opus' winemaker since 2001, and his team individually rate every vine within their 170 acres of vineyards. The data is collected and organized into a detailed spreadsheet. Silacci also works alongside M.I.T. scientists who test factors such as acidity, color, and sugar levels. No detail is spared, and this is what gives Opus its singularity.

As a result of this uncanny attention to detail, the 2021 Opus One vintage has garnered impressive praise from the wine community. James Suckling, a renowned wine critic, awarded the 2021 Opus One a remarkable score of 99 points. Suckling praised the wine for its "powerful yet elegant profile," noting its "deep, rich fruit flavors" and "balanced structure."

Critics from other esteemed publications have also weighed in favorably. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave the 2021 vintage a score of 95 points, highlighting its "complex layers of dark fruit and spice" and "long, satisfying finish." Wine Spectator, known for its rigorous evaluations, awarded it 94 points, describing the wine as "velvety and refined with excellent aging potential."

With stellar ratings from James Suckling and other critics, it stands out as a must-try for any wine enthusiast. Under the expert guidance of Michael Silacci and with meticulous vineyard management, Opus One continues to set the standard for excellence in the world of fine wine. And perhaps, one day, even space travel.  The plausibility of such did not seem far off after we recently learned that a certain beverage conglomerate with a starry name owns a stake in the winery.