Opus One
Opus One
Oakville, Napa Valley
2016
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2023-2044).
In 2026 the Opus One 2016 is in year four of its formal peak window, which runs from 2023 through 2044, with 18 years of prime drinking still ahead. The wine entered its drinking window in 2020, giving it three years of early access before peak entry in 2023, and the four years of peak aging through 2026 have allowed the opulent, full-bodied character that defined the 2016 growing season's exceptional quality to integrate and express with the complexity and structural depth that Opus One's Bordeaux-informed winemaking philosophy builds into each vintage. In 2026 the blueberry, black cherry jam, and crème de cassis fruit core that distinguishes the 2016 as one of the most concentrated and opulent Opus One releases of the decade shows the full integration of primary fruit richness with the secondary complexity of dark chocolate, cedar, and violet that the wine's four years at peak have developed. The wine's full-bodied structure and opulent weight, which are the defining characteristics of the 2016 vintage expression at Opus One, are now beautifully matched by the structural complexity and aromatic depth that four years of peak-phase development have added. Those who purchased bottles on release and have cellared them through 2026 are now at an excellent moment to begin opening the allocation, with the 18 remaining peak years through 2044 providing ample time to pace consumption. First-time buyers in 2026 are acquiring the wine at its most expressive and complex moment in the peak arc.
The ‘16 Opus One.
Opus One 2016, year four at peak: blueberry, black cherry jam, creme de cassis, dark chocolate, and cedar from Oakville's flagship. Opulent and full-bodied, 18 years of prime drinking remain.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The Opus One 2016 pours a deep, inky ruby with exceptional concentration and depth, the color density reflecting the 2016 Napa Valley vintage's extraordinary growing conditions that produced wines of exceptional richness, concentration, and structural depth across the appellation. The nose opens with an immediate and generous presentation of blueberry of notable ripeness and depth, the fruit character reflecting the 2016 season's ideal balance of warmth, sun exposure, and moderate diurnal temperature range that preserved both fruit intensity and natural acidity through the growing season. Black cherry jam follows as a second dimension of dense, concentrated red and dark fruit that amplifies the wine's opulent character; crème de cassis adds the darkest, most concentrated fruit note in the aromatic profile, a deep blackcurrant liqueur character that signals the 2016 vintage's exceptional concentration. Violets provide the floral lift that Opus One's Cabernet Franc component characteristically contributes; dark chocolate introduces the wine's secondary complexity dimension that four years of peak aging have developed from the oak-derived aromatic compounds of the estate's French barrel program; and cedar provides the classic Bordeaux-varietal woody aromatic element that integrates the primary fruit richness with the wine's structural depth. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and opulent, exactly as the vintage's exceptional growing conditions promised, with the concentration and structural weight that Opus One's Bordeaux-inspired blending approach amplifies in strong vintages.
The 2016 vintage
The 2016 Napa Valley vintage is consistently cited among the finest of the decade, a growing season characterized by optimal temperature ranges, moderate yields from the previous winter's adequate rainfall, and an autumn of exceptional clarity and cool nights that preserved natural acidity and aromatic complexity alongside the warm-season fruit concentration. The 2016 growing season followed the severe drought years of 2013 through 2015 and the warm 2013 and 2014 vintages with a season that delivered better rainfall balance in winter and spring followed by the warm, consistent summer temperatures that Napa Cabernet Sauvignon requires for full phenolic development. Wine Spectator rated the 2016 Napa Valley 96 Classic and described it as a vintage of remarkable concentration combined with fresh, balanced acidity, noting that the finest Oakville expressions from 2016 showed the combination of opulent fruit richness and structural precision that the greatest Napa vintages deliver. For Opus One specifically, the 2016 conditions produced a wine that Robert Parker's Wine Advocate described as among the most complete expressions of the estate's blending philosophy in the modern era, combining the opulent blueberry, black cherry, and crème de cassis intensity of the vintage with the dark chocolate and cedar complexity that the Bordeaux varieties contribute when fully ripe.
About Opus One
Opus One was founded in 1979 as a joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, the first major Franco-American collaboration in fine wine and a project whose ambition was to create a Napa Valley wine worthy of comparison with the first growths of Bordeaux. The estate farms 170 acres of Oakville vineyards using Bordeaux varieties with Cabernet Sauvignon as the dominant component, supplemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot in a blend that reflects the Bordeaux classification's philosophy of varietal complementarity rather than the single-variety purity that many Napa producers pursue. Winemaker Michael Silacci has overseen the estate's production since 2001, maintaining the founding commitment to Bordeaux winemaking philosophy: cold soaks for color and aromatic extraction, gentle fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks, malolactic fermentation in barrel, and extended aging in 100% new French oak for 18 months. The result is a wine of exceptional opulence and structural depth that reflects both the Oakville terroir's inherent quality and the Bordeaux philosophy's ability to translate that terroir into wines of particular complexity and longevity.
From the cellar: pair with
Prime aged beef tenderloin with black truffle butter, pommes Anna, and red wine reduction
The Opus One 2016's opulent blueberry, black cherry jam, and crème de cassis fruit core with full-bodied weight finds its natural counterpart in the richness of aged beef tenderloin; black truffle butter echoes the wine's dark chocolate and cedar secondary complexity, and pommes Anna provides the refined starchy counterpoint that the wine's structural weight calls for.
Rack of lamb with Provencal herb crust, roasted eggplant caviar, and olive oil emulsion
The wine's violet lift, dark cherry jam, and cedar complexity align with rack of lamb's sweet, delicate richness; the Provencal herb crust adds the herbal, aromatic dimension that the Cabernet Franc component's violet note calls for, and roasted eggplant caviar provides the earthy, Mediterranean depth that echoes the wine's dark chocolate secondary character.
Slow-roasted short rib with celery root puree, black garlic, and aged balsamic reduction
The Opus One 2016's full-bodied opulence and concentrated cassis and dark chocolate character require the richness and structural depth of slow-roasted short rib; celery root puree adds elegant starchy counterpoint, black garlic amplifies the wine's dark, concentrated aromatic character, and aged balsamic echoes the wine's opulent fruit intensity.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 63-65F (17-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 60 to 90 minutes in 2026. The Opus One 2016's full-bodied, opulent structure and the dark chocolate, crème de cassis, and cedar aromatic complexity benefit from extended aeration that allows the wine to open and show the full range of its blueberry, black cherry, and violet primary fruit alongside the secondary complexity that four years at peak have developed. Serve in a large Bordeaux glass with a broad bowl. As the wine continues through the 18-year peak arc, bottles opened from 2030 onward may require slightly less decanting time as the tannic structure integrates further; in 2026 the full 60 to 90 minutes is recommended.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Oakville, Napa Valley, California
Frequently Asked
Is Opus One 2016 ready to drink now?
Yes: the Opus One 2016 is in year four of its formal peak window in 2026, which runs through 2044. The blueberry, black cherry jam, crème de cassis, dark chocolate, and cedar aromatic profile is fully integrated and showing the full complexity that four years of peak aging have developed. Decant 60 to 90 minutes before serving. With 18 years of prime drinking remaining, there is no urgency to finish bottles quickly, but 2026 is one of the most expressive moments in the wine's arc. See the [Napa Valley region guide](/wines/region/napa-valley) for more on the exceptional 2016 vintage.
What makes Opus One different from other Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons?
Opus One's distinction is its Bordeaux-assembly philosophy: rather than producing a single-variety Cabernet Sauvignon, winemaker Michael Silacci blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot in a composition that mirrors the blending approach of Bordeaux's first-growth estates. The result is a wine of opulent, full-bodied character with the violet and dark chocolate complexity that the Bordeaux varieties add to the core Cabernet Sauvignon fruit concentration. The founding partnership between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild also established the estate's commitment to 100% new French oak aging and Bordeaux-style production techniques. See the [Cabernet Sauvignon varietal guide](/wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon) for broader varietal context.
How long will the Opus One 2016 age?
The Opus One 2016 has 18 years of prime drinking ahead in 2026, with the peak window running through 2044 and a hard decline threshold after 2052. The wine's full-bodied structure, concentrated tannin framework, and the exceptional 2016 growing season's natural acidity give it the structural foundation for the full peak arc and additional aging beyond. Those with multiple bottles can pace consumption across the peak window and observe how the primary blueberry and crème de cassis character transitions toward tertiary complexity of dried fruit, cigar tobacco, and forest floor through the 2030s and 2040s.
What vintage should I compare the 2016 Opus One against?
Within the Opus One range, the 2016 is most comparable to the 2013 and 2018 vintages: all three are characterized by opulent, full-bodied concentration combined with structural precision and natural acidity that gives the wines both immediate appeal at peak and long-term aging potential. The 2016 is distinguished by its particular combination of blueberry depth, crème de cassis intensity, and dark chocolate secondary complexity. Within the broader Napa Valley 2016 vintage context, it is a peer of the finest Oakville Cabernets of the decade, including the MacDonald and Abreu estates' 2016 expressions from the same appellation.
What is the best food pairing for Opus One 2016?
The Opus One 2016's opulent, full-bodied structure, concentrated blueberry and crème de cassis fruit core, and dark chocolate and cedar secondary complexity pair best with preparations of equivalent richness and structural depth. Prime aged beef tenderloin with black truffle butter is the most classical match; rack of lamb with Provencal herb crust adds the herbal and floral dimension that the wine's violet and cedar character calls for; slow-roasted short rib with black garlic and aged balsamic reduction provides the rich, concentrated counterpoint that the wine's full-bodied weight requires. Avoid delicate, light preparations that would be overwhelmed by the wine's opulence.