Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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2017 Opus One, Napa Valley, USA 1.5L

Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage.

2019 Opus One, Napa Valley, USA 375ml

Winemaker Michael Silacci commented that usually the blends are finished in January or February after the vintage. This year, with the 2019s, he was still tweaking the blend, but he did mention that this is "pretty close to the final blend." Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Opus One leaps from the glass with notes of Black Forest cake, Morello cherries, mulberries and fresh blackcurrants plus hints of licorice, wilted roses, Sichuan pepper and iron ore.

2019 Opus One, Napa Valley, USA 750ml

Winemaker Michael Silacci commented that usually the blends are finished in January or February after the vintage. This year, with the 2019s, he was still tweaking the blend, but he did mention that this is "pretty close to the final blend." Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Opus One leaps from the glass with notes of Black Forest cake, Morello cherries, mulberries and fresh blackcurrants plus hints of licorice, wilted roses, Sichuan pepper and iron ore.

2019 Domaine Trapet Pere et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea, Cote de Nuits, France 1.5L

Derived from old vines in the commune of Brochon, Trapet's 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea offers up aromas of cherries, raw cocoa and coniferous forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, it's deeper and more introverted—and more of a long-haul prospect—than the domaine's immensely charming regular Gevrey, with a layered core and a long, mineral finish. (WK)

2019 Domaine Trapet Pere et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea, Cote de Nuits, France 750ml

Derived from old vines in the commune of Brochon, Trapet's 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea offers up aromas of cherries, raw cocoa and coniferous forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, it's deeper and more introverted—and more of a long-haul prospect—than the domaine's immensely charming regular Gevrey, with a layered core and a long, mineral finish. (WK)

2018 Vietti Castiglione, Barolo DOCG, Italy 750ml

Vietti has the enormous advantage of 10 MGA sites at its disposition for blending purposes (and for making single-vineyard wines). This allows them to select the fruit they want to best express any one vintage. The 2018 Barolo Castiglione draws upon those 10 sites (including the recent additions of Mosconi, Ginestra, Bricco Ravera and Briccolina) to make what is ultimately its best-selling wine (with 35,000 bottles released). This classic rendition is tonic and clean with varietal tones of wild berry, rose and rusty nail. (ML)

2017 Produttori del Barbaresco 'Rio Sordo', Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 750ml

The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo (with 10,000 bottles released) has a mineral character and a sleek, firm approach that gives this wine its special identity. The wine is polished, almost glossy in texture with blackcurrant, plum and wild rose, and the tannins are gripping, although the Rio Sordo sports a lean to medium-rich density overall. (ML)

2017 Produttori del Barbaresco 'Rabaja', Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 750ml

The Produttori del Barbaresco 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is another spectacular release from this cooperative winery that hits it out of the ballpark with each set of new releases. That impressive track record includes this wine that delivers extreme focus, depth and integrity. The bouquet is very clear cut with dark cherry, tart plum, spice and blood orange, but it is also complex and fluid. It offers new perspectives with each swirl of the glass. From a hot vintage, the Rabajà is smooth, powerful and balanced. I would bet on long aging for this bottle. 14,438 bottles were produced.

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