The 1998 Opus One (20th Anniversary for Opus One) is a testament to the pioneering partnership between two of the most influential figures in wine history: Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Founded in 1978, the joint venture was established with the singular goal of creating a “Bordeaux-style” blend that showcased the unique terroir of Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA. By 1998, the winery had fully transitioned into its iconic, semi-subterranean facility, which allowed for a gravity-flow winemaking process and precise temperature control. This vintage represents a period where the estate was refining its identity, moving toward a style that balanced the opulent fruit of California with the structural restraint and aging potential of a Médoc First Growth.

The 1998 growing season in Napa Valley is remembered as one of the most challenging and labor-intensive of the decade, primarily due to the influence of a powerful El Niño weather pattern. A cold, exceptionally wet winter was followed by a damp spring, which significantly delayed bud break and flowering. The summer remained unseasonably cool and overcast, preventing the rapid sugar accumulation typical of the region. This forced the Opus One vineyard team to engage in aggressive canopy management and fruit thinning to ensure the clusters remained dry and received maximum sunlight. A warm, dry spell in September and October finally allowed for ripening, though the harvest was small and required rigorous sorting. The resulting wine is celebrated for its elegance, lower alcohol levels, and a “savory” profile that reflects the cooler conditions of the year.