The 1982 Opus One Proprietary Red Wine is a distinctive offering from the renowned Napa Valley region in California. This red wine is a proprietary blend, primarily composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Merlot. With its origins rooted in a wet winter and warm spring, the vintage experienced some rain during harvest, resulting in a high yield that continues to deliver impressive results even decades later.
Jane Anson, writing for janeanson.com, awarded the wine a score of 92. She notes, “Tobacco, fresh and dried roses, mouthwatering grippy tannins that are still dictating the direction of travel.” Anson highlights the wine’s tertiary character, mentioning blue cheese touches and a blend of sweet redcurrant and raspberry puree that build through the palate. She observes that the wine starts subtly but layers up concentrated fruits, suggesting it still has a long way to go. The winemaking process included 9 days of skin contact, under the guidance of winemakers Lucien Sionneau and Tim Mondavi.
Vinous, another respected publication, rated the 1982 Opus One slightly lower at 90 points. The review describes the wine as “one of the more direct wines in this complete vertical.” There is ample fruit present, but the tannins are described as less polished compared to other vintages of the same era. The wine comes across as somewhat “burly and rough around the edges.” However, the depth of the fruit implies that the 1982 might still benefit from further aging in the bottle.
Overall, the 1982 Opus One Proprietary Red Wine stands out for its complex flavors and potential for continued development. While opinions on its current state differ, with Jane Anson praising its layered complexity and Vinous noting its rougher tannins, there is a consensus that this vintage remains a noteworthy example of Napa Valley’s winemaking prowess.