Opus One 1998
Opus One 1998 is a 13.5% ABV Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blend — 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot — from a vintage that stretched into late October after El Niño's winter flooding. The long, slow ripening season produced a supple, lush wine of opaque purple color with intense aromas of blackberries, vanilla, and roasted espresso. Now fully mature at 28 years, it's drinking beautifully. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 13.5%
- Size: 750mL
- Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
- Vintage: 1998 — El Niño winter flooding; harvest extended into late October
- Estate: Opus One, Oakville, Napa Valley — the Rothschild/Mondavi joint venture (first vintage 1979)
- Score: AG 93
An Underrated Vintage, Now at Its Peak
1998 was panned by critics at release — a cool, wet El Niño year — but Opus One's winemakers used the long ripening period to build a wine of balance and class that has only improved with time. Founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Napa legend Robert Mondavi, Opus One remains the defining Napa cult wine, aged in French oak and cellared before release. For more legendary California reds, browse our Cabernet Sauvignon selection.
Tasting Notes
Opaque purple color. Intense aromas of blackberries, vanilla, roasted espresso, and caramel. The palate is supple and lush with a resilient middle body, seamless texture, and flavors of cherry, plum, cedar, herbs, and leather that have gained savory complexity with age. The finish is long and persistent.
How to Enjoy
Decant 30–60 minutes and serve at 60–65°F. Pairs with prime rib, dry-aged steaks, venison, and hard cheeses. A bottle of this age is best enjoyed soon — this is the vintage to open, not to hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Opus One 1998 still good?
Yes — critics found it still vibrant and drinking beautifully in recent tastings (AG 93), with savory herbs, mint, licorice, and plums woven into a long, persistent finish.
What is the blend of Opus One 1998?
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.
What is the alcohol content of Opus One 1998?
13.5% ABV.
Who makes Opus One?
Opus One is the Napa Valley joint venture of Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Château Mouton Rothschild) and Robert Mondavi, founded to create a single Bordeaux-style blend in Oakville, CA.
Own a piece of Napa history — order Opus One 1998 at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.