As two of the most important names within the Napa Valley wine trade, Opus One and Caymus make extremely sought-after “cult” Cabernet Sauvignon blends of excellent high quality. Nevertheless, that is the place their similarities finish. While you evaluate Opus One vs. Caymus, there’s a transparent distinction in model and taste—the previous is closely impressed by Previous-World Bordeaux blends, whereas the latter is unapologetically New World in model.
For that reason, many wine lovers could have a transparent choice for one producer over the opposite. On this information, you’ll study what the flavour variations are between Opus One vs. Caymus in addition to the variations in worth, age-worthiness, and collectability to be able to curate your excellent assortment of nice Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Opus One vs. Caymus: Primary Variations
The first distinction between Opus One vs. Caymus is that Opus One wines are extra herbaceous than Caymus wines, which are typically fruit-forward. Opus One tastes of earth, herbs, cigar field, and pepper. Caymus tastes of darkish chocolate, cherry, tobacco, and baking spices.
Nevertheless, past taste, there are just a few different variations between these producers, which you’ll see beneath.
| Producer | Getting old Potential | Flagship Mix | Common Worth |
| Opus One | 20-30 years | 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and Malbec | $420 per bottle |
| Caymus | 10-15 years | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon | $215 per bottle |
Opus One wines don’t style as approachable of their youth as wines from Caymus. That’s as a result of Opus One wines are particularly designed for long-term growing old—their agency tannins and distinguished acidity soften with time, making them scrumptious and really collectible with age.
When you can age Caymus wines too, they often come to maturity sooner than Opus One, they usually’re typically extra approachable shortly after launch.
So, if you happen to’re in search of a wine to put down long-term and even resell for a revenue, Opus One is usually the higher alternative. However, if you happen to’re in search of a wine to drink quickly after shopping for it, strive Caymus.
- Blends and Harvesting Methods
Opus One is a Bordeaux-style mix, which suggests it’s constructed from a standard mix of grapes that originated in that area of France. Just like the First Progress producers of Bordeaux, Opus One’s winemakers handpick the grapes simply after they ripen to protect the fruit’s acidity. Consequently, these wines are well-balanced, elegant, and contemporary.
By comparability, Caymus’ flagship wine (referred to as Particular Choice) is made purely from Cabernet Sauvignon. To make its wines as ripe and concentrated as doable, Caymus leaves the grapes on the vine for an extended time period earlier than harvesting them. For that reason, the Particular Choice label is sweeter and fuller-bodied than Opus One.
Collectors who take pleasure in blue-chip Bordeaux will possible want the style of Opus One over Caymus. Or, if you happen to’re a fan of massive, daring California Cabernet, Caymus is a wonderful alternative, because it’s one of the crucial advanced and flavorful wines being crafted at present. Alternatively, many wine fanatics love selection and select to gather each.
Location performs a key position within the taste of Opus One vs. Caymus. These wineries are positioned simply three miles aside throughout the similar bigger area: the Napa Valley American Viticultural Space (AVA). Nevertheless, they’re positioned in several sub-AVAs of Napa with differing climates.
The Opus One vineyard is positioned within the western a part of the Oakville AVA, which is a reasonably heat subregion. Cooling winds from the San Francisco Bay give Opus One wines distinguished acidity whereas heat air from the San Joaquin Valley permits the grapes to ripen absolutely. The result’s a wine that has a superb steadiness between acidity and sweetness and a complexity of taste that’s fairly much like wines made in reasonably heat areas of Bordeaux like the Médoc.
By comparability, the Caymus vineyard is positioned within the Rutherford AVA, which has a hotter local weather and faster-draining soils. Consequently, Caymus wines are richer, riper, and extra intense in taste.
Why is there such a distinction in worth between Opus One vs. Caymus? It comes right down to rarity.
Opus One produces about 25,000 instances per yr and its flagship label is barely made in years when grape high quality is particularly excessive. This will increase the worth of those wines. The flagship label is among the many most collectible wines in all of Napa Valley and is extremely wanted amongst buyers.
Caymus’ wines usually aren’t value as a lot as Opus One partly as a result of these wines aren’t fairly as uncommon. Caymus produces about 58,000 instances per yr–greater than twice as a lot as Opus One.
Should you gather solely the rarest wines on the earth, then Opus One is your only option. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re in search of an distinctive wine to serve with dinner or to purchase in bigger portions for a particular celebration (like a marriage), Caymus is a good alternative.
In fact, this solely provides you a normal concept of which producer you would possibly want. To determine which wines you’d relatively drink, do a blind tasting of the perfect vintages from every producer.
Evaluating the Finest Opus One and Caymus Vintages
Blind tasting is one of the simplest ways to determine the wines that enchantment most to you and to check Opus One vs. Caymus on a stage taking part in area. Take into account tasting a wide range of vintages from every producer, as vintages can range considerably in taste. For instance, in Napa Valley, 2009 was a hotter classic than standard and produced bolder wines, whereas 2013 was cooler and produced extra high-acid wines. You may’t at all times get an correct impression of a wine label from only one classic alone.
Should you’re prepared to check Opus One vs. Caymus, take into account shopping for just a few of the next vintages, that are identified for being of top of the range and for completely displaying all that these distinctive producers have to supply.
| Opus One Vintages | Caymus Vintages |
|---|---|
| 2019 Opus One | 2016 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Particular Choice |
| 2017 Opus One | 2015 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Particular Choice |
| 2013 Opus One | 2013 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Particular Choice |
| 2010 Opus One | 2010 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Particular Choice |
| 2009 Opus One | 1983 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon |
Tasting these wines side-by-side actually is without doubt one of the finest methods to find out which you favor. Nevertheless, it’s not the one manner. Beneath, you’ll discover just a few extra helpful recommendations on the right way to determine between Opus One vs. Caymus.
Selecting Between Opus One and Caymus
To determine which wine is best for you, it’s useful to contemplate whether or not you often want Previous-World or New World wines. Collectors who love New World kinds will possible want the fruit-forward style of Caymus, whereas collectors who take pleasure in earthier notes will favor Opus One’s Bordeaux-style blends. Nevertheless, take into account that whereas Opus One does style extra much like traditional Bordeaux than Caymus does, these wines nonetheless have quite a lot of New World affect.
Why You May Select Opus One
Opus One is a good transition wine for individuals who usually solely drink Previous-World wines and want to department out into extra trendy California cult wines. Likewise, Opus One is a good choice for collectors who often solely drink New-World wines and want to discover extra conventional kinds. It straddles the road between the 2 worlds.
Opus One can also be a greater funding for collectors who need to resell their collections on-line or at public sale. Its worth typically grows steadily over time, particularly while you purchase vintages younger and hold them in skilled storage for a decade or extra. Opus One steadily ranks among the many top-performing wines available on the market yearly.
Why You May Select Caymus
It may be simpler to search out Caymus in bigger portions on {the marketplace} in comparison with bottles of Opus One, so that is the higher alternative for large gatherings and dinner events.
It’s additionally an all-around crowd-pleasing model of wine that ought to enchantment to most fanatics. Its distinguished crimson fruit notes will entice anybody who loves a daring wine, whereas its advanced taste profile will impress these with discerning tastes.
You may even resell a Caymus assortment for a small revenue if the bottles are saved underneath good circumstances. Whereas the resale worth isn’t exceptionally excessive, sought-after vintages of the Particular Choice label have greater than doubled in worth in comparison with their worth on launch.
The Backside Line
In the end, if you happen to plan on consuming your wine, style is an important issue. The upside to being a collector is you by no means have to decide on between Opus One vs. Caymus. In truth, having just a few vintages from each producers provides you a style of the total range Napa has to supply.
It’s additionally good to have a wide range of wines for various events. On days while you really feel like sharing a uncommon bottle with somebody particular, the 2010 Opus One is the right alternative. Or, when you’ve got a giant bash developing, just a few younger bottles of Caymus will seize everybody’s consideration. These producers could have very totally different approaches to Cabernet Sauvignon, however they’re equally intriguing.
Questioning about Opus One vs. Caymus wines? Begin your assortment by visiting the Vinfolio market. Whether or not you might be beginning your high-end wine assortment or including to a longtime portfolio, Vinfolio is your associate in shopping for, promoting, and skilled storage. Contact us at present to get entry to the world’s most interesting wine.
