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93 Points, International Wine Cellar - cabernet sauvignon blended with 8% petit verdot, 4% merlot and 1% each malbec and cabernet franc): Good red-ruby color. Rather wild, nuanced nose combines blackcurrant, dusty brown spices, tobacco, mocha, leather and meat. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, with enticing inner-mouth florality giving lift to the dark berry, licorice and bitter chocolate flavors. Not a particularly dense or fruity style but boasts nicely integrated acidity and already displays a lot of personality. Finishes with substantial but fine-grained tannins, a hint of licorice and excellent persistence. Winemaker Michael Silacci noted that this wine features the highest percentage of petit verdot to date. And he's convinced that co-fermenting it with the cabernet sauvignon diminished the natural rusticity of petit verdot.
92 Points, Wine Spectator - Graceful and elegant, very understated and delicate, with floral, spice, mint, bay leaf, currant, cedar and tobacco notes that are complex and vibrant. Full-bodied, gaining on the finish, then firming and drying. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
Winemaker Notes
Initial aromas of rose petals and spring flowers in the 2008 Opus One give way to cassis, cola and black cherry, with notes of marzipan and sandalwood. A satin texture enrobes the wine’s smooth, round tannins, its bright acidity supporting a juicy and elegant mouthfeel.
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