Opus One 2005
Opus One 2005 is a 14% ABV Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blend — 88% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec — from a cooler vintage that produced one of the most perfumed, perfectly balanced wines in the estate's history. Ruby-purple in color, it shows créme de cassis, spring flowers, and silky tannins — a beauty at full maturity that critics say will evolve for many more years. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 14%
- Size: 750mL
- Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec
- Vintage: 2005 — cooler Napa vintage; low yields, high concentration
- Aging: ≈18 months in new French oak (estate practice)
- Scores: DEC 96 · RP 95 · JD 95 · VM 93
Cool-Vintage Elegance at Its Peak
The 2005 is the vintage Opus One collectors talk about in reverent tones — a cooler year that traded sheer power for perfume, purity, and balance. Robert Parker called it "exactly what Opus One was meant to be," and Jeb Dunnuck, writing on its maturity, found it "firing on all cylinders today." Fully mature yet still evolving, it's a textbook example of what Napa's great Bordeaux blends do best. Explore our Cabernet Sauvignon collection for more.
Tasting Notes
Ruby/purple color. The nose is sweet and perfumed — créme de cassis, spring flowers, currant, plum, and dried cranberry, with minerals and herbs. The palate is medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, superb purity and balance: dark fruits, sappy tobacco, chocolate, and abundant minerality. Medium to full-bodied, complex, and opulent, finishing long and refined.
How to Enjoy
Decant 30–60 minutes and serve at 60–65°F. Pairs beautifully with filet mignon, rack of lamb, wild mushroom risotto, and mature cheeses. Fully mature now, with plenty of life ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the scores for Opus One 2005?
Decanter 96, Robert Parker 95, Jeb Dunnuck 95, Vinous 93.
What is the blend of Opus One 2005?
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.
Is Opus One 2005 ready to drink?
Yes — it's at full maturity and drinking beautifully now, with another 10–15+ years of upside potential per critics.
What is the alcohol content of Opus One 2005?
14% ABV.
Order the celebrated Opus One 2005 online from Del Mesa Liquor — San Diego, CA.