Opolo is not any stranger to Drinkhacker HQ’s wine cellar, and the final half of the 12 months has revealed 4 new bottlings for our reviewing pleasure. These wines span the gamut from vivid whites to the vineyard’s heartiest, most seductive reds, so there must be a bit of one thing right here for everybody.
2023 Opolo Albarino Central Coast – Nearly as good as any California albarino I’ve encountered, that includes a mix of candy peaches, lemonade, and light-weight vanilla custard that works simply nice collectively. It’s a surprisingly creamy expression of albarino, with much less brisk acidity than you’d discover in a Spanish expression — although that twist isn’t a foul one. Floral notes — honeysuckle, primarily — linger, with a gooseberry high quality rounding issues out on the end. I’m a fan. A- / $36
2022 Opolo Zinfandel Summit Creek – As aggressive as any Sonoma zinfandel that I can recall, this intense crimson pours on notes of extracted raspberries, strawberries, and currants, all doused in bittersweet melted chocolate. Unctuous sweetness pours over you on the end, which options lingering notes of almond brittle and candied licorice. Initially a wallop within the face, this grew on me over time — however nuanced it’s not. B / $21
2022 Opolo Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Willow Creek District – 100% cabernet. This wine wants a couple of minutes to open up, or a decanting, earlier than its charms are absolutely revealed. In time, a currant-soaked core evolves to indicate off notes of tea leaf and cola, plus heat blackberry crumble, however tempered by tarry asphalt. The tannins fade with air time, abandoning a slick, virtually oily end that takes a late-game savory flip, with a gently soy sauce-like umami high quality. Chewy from begin to end, with notes of thyme and sage on the outro. A- / $55
2022 Opolo Rhapsody Reserve Purple Mix Paso Robles Willow Creek District – Opolo’s Bordeaux model mix is 70% cabernet sauvignon, 18% malbec, 9% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, and 1% petit verdot. Layers of blueberry and boysenberry inform a wealthy and chocolate-laden palate, the brighter berry fruit transferring into notes of currants and barely underripe plums. A tannic grip stays sturdy right here, with intense notes of anise and graphite hanging tight on the palate. It really works nicely at this time as a pairing automobile at mealtime, however a strong 5 years in cellar wouldn’t be out of line with this wine. A- / $60
2023 Opolo Albarino Central Coast
$36
