Basically, the reputation of Opus One lies solely on the marketing machine. It costs far more than what the wine quality actually usually merits, despite its "reputation". Daniel Cuvee Pahlmeyer (one of our favorite blends in the world) Blankiet Estate Robert Craig: Affinity Gemstone Sloan Pride: Reserve Claret Cardinale (another of the Kendall Jackson special wineries) Beaulieu Vineyards: Tapestry Vineyard 29 Regusci: Proprietary Red These don't even include the wines that are far more legendary in Napa that regularly take top honors and are far better regarded (but usually cost more): Abreu Araujo Bond Bryant Colgin Dalla Valle (Maya) Harlan Hundred Acre My point is this: I NEVER recommend friends to visit Opus One. In fact, I wouldn't say it is one of the most heralded wines in Napa Valley! For cabernet and cabernet blends, any of the following wineries consistently outperform Opus One and at similar or more reasonable prices: Verite: La Joie (owned by Kendall Jackson family, in Sonoma) Kapcsandy Family Dominus Peter Michael: Les Pavots (straddling Napa and Sonoma) Joseph Phelps: Insignia (one of the best wines annually in Napa) Lail Vineyards: J. It is NOT one of the most heralded wines in the world. (This, for me, stands in direct contract to the otherwise Vegas-like winery at Darioush, where we always send friends to visit while in Napa.) Opus One is the product of incredible marketing. As has been stated so many times herein, the staff obviously still tend to be incredibly pretentious and the surroundings, though impressive, leave one feeling cold. Many years ago, we visited Opus One during our first visit to Napa. My partner and I are serious wine fanatics-we belong to some of the most acclaimed and sought-after wine allocation lists in Napa and Sonoma (including Harlan Estate, Byrant Estate, Colgin, Abreu, Araujo, Kistler, Peter Michael, to name just a few). In researching Napa for friends, I happened to notice some wineries reviewed herein which I thought needed an another perspective.
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