Opus One vs Caymus: Which Wine Deserves a Spot in Your Cellar?

Opus One and Caymus are globally renowned for crafting outstanding Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines. 

However, the wines vary greatly in grape blends, taste, price, and more.

More importantly, only one of them is really worth it if you’re into long-term investing.

In this guide, we’ll explore Opus One vs Caymus wine differences in detail. We’ll then check out the best vintage years and critics’ scores, if it’s worth investing in these wines, and the other most sought-after Napa Valley wines. 

Opus One vs Caymus Wines: 3 Main Differences

Here are the main differences between Opus One and Caymus wines:

1. Vineyard Sites and Harvesting Techniques
2. Blends and Wine Characteristics
3. Price

1. Vineyard Sites and Harvesting Techniques

Opus and Caymus wineries are both located in the Napa Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA.) However, they’re about 3 miles apart - situated in different sub-AVAs with different terroirs.

The Opus One winery is located in the Oakville AVA - a moderately warm region that receives cooling winds from the San Francisco Bay. To preserve the grapes’ acidity, Opus One winemakers handpick the fruit as soon as it ripens.

Meanwhile, the Caymus winery is based in the Rutherford AVA - a region with well-drained soils and a warmer climate. To produce concentrated wines, the winemakers leave the grapes on the vine for a longer period before harvest.

2. Blends and Wine Characteristics

The Opus One Winery crafts two Cabernet Sauvignon wine labels - the Opus One (flagship wine) and the Overture (second wine.) These drinks are made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon but also contain traces of Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec grapes.

A typical Opus One wine is elegant, well-balanced, acidic, and has a soft texture, a fruity complexity, supple tannins, and the tasting notes of herbs and spices. This wine is inspired by Old World Bordeaux blends.

The Caymus winery also produces two labels - the Caymus Vineyard Special Selection (flagship wine) and the Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (second wine.) 

The Caymus flagship wine is made exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon, while the second wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and traces of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes.

The typical Caymus wine is sweet, full-bodied, ripe, and has low acidity and tasting notes of rich dark chocolate and black cherry. This drink is inspired by New World wines.

3. Price

The Opus One flagship wine is worth $350 to $1,900 per bottle. Meanwhile, the Opus One second wine, the Overture, costs $140 to $180 per bottle.

Caymus winery’s flagship wine, the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection, is worth $200 to $600 per bottle. The second label, the Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, costs $80 to $500 per bottle.

Let’s now check out the best years and critics' scores for these wines.

What Are the Best Years for Opus One and Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Wines?

Here are the best vintage years for Opus One and Caymus:

1. Opus One: Best Vintage Years

Some of the best years for Opus One include 2016, 2013, 2009, 2002, 1984, 1981, 1980, and 1979.

• 2016: The year had light rainfall and moderate temperatures, and the wines produced are concentrated and acidic.

Best Wine: 2016 Opus One Overture ($174)

Average critics’ score: 95

• 2013: This vintage had ideal growing conditions, and the wines are full-bodied and have refreshing acidity.

Best Wine: 2013 Opus One Overture ($431)

Average critics’ score: 96

• 2009: The year had cool temperatures, and the wines boast fruity complexity and moderate acidity.

Best Wine: 2009 Opus One Overture ($439)

Average critics’ score: 92

• 2002: The year had light rainfall and warm temperatures, and the wines are elegant and have moderate acidity.

Best Wine: 2002 Opus One ($456)

Average critics’ score: 90

• 1984: The growing season was warm, and the wines are well-balanced, highly concentrated, and have excellent aging potential.

Best Wine: 1984 Opus One ($516)

Average critics’ score: 89

• 1981: The year had a mild winter and low rainfall, and the harvest was done early. 

Best Wine: 1981 Opus One ($655)

Average critics’ score: 86

• 1980: This vintage had a cool growing season, and the wines are rich and acidic.

Best Wine: 1980 Opus One ($998)

Average critics’ score: 90

• 1979: The year had a perfect growing season, and the grapes were harvested early.

Best Wine: 1979 Opus One ($1,842)

Average critics’ score: 90

2. Caymus: Best Vintage Years

The best years for Caymus wines include 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2011:

• 2019: This vintage had ideal growing conditions, and the grape harvest was higher than average.

Best Wine: 2019 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($91)

Average critics’ score: 91

• 2017: The year had abundant rainfall, and the wines display fruity complexity and medium-bodied richness.

Best Wine: 2017 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($103)

Average critics’ score: 91

• 2016: This vintage had light rainfall and moderate temperatures - producing delicate, light-bodied wines with subtle acidity.

Best Wine: 2016 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($208)

Average critics’ score: 93

• 2015: The year had excellent growing conditions - resulting in wines with crisp ripeness and medium-bodied richness.

Best Wine: 2015 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($128)

Average critics’ score: 92

• 2014: This vintage had light rainfall and dry conditions but ended up producing higher-than-expected yields

Best Wine: 2014 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($151)

Average critics’ score: 91

• 2011: The year had low rainfall and cold temperatures but produced juicy grapes with a high concentration.

Best Wine: 2011 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($324)

Average critics’ score: 93

Now, let’s check if it’s ideal to add these wines to your collection.

Is It Worth Investing in Opus One and Caymus Wines?

Opus One’s flagship wine is excellent for investment purposes. This California wine has an incredible aging potential of around 20-30 years.

Besides, this great wine also shows a stable price appreciation. For example, the price of the 1980 Opus One wine increased by a whopping 131% - from $536 in December 2020 to $1,240 in January 2022.

The wine also performs well at auctions - a 1 magnum bottle of the 1980 Opus One wine was sold for $5,000 at a Sotheby’s February 2022 auction.

Meanwhile, most Caymus wines are usually best consumed within 5 years and don’t make great investments. However, a few of the best Caymus Vineyard Special Selection vintages might be worth adding to your collection.

For example, the 2011 Special Selection Caymus wine is a collectible fine wine that received 95 points from Robert Parker. The price of this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon increased by 77% - from $195 in December 2020 to $346 in May 2022.

Not sure how to find a wine that’s worth adding to your collection?

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What Are the Other Most Sought-After Napa Valley Wines?

Here are the other extraordinary Napa Valley wines to check out:

1. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
2. Dominus Estate Christian Moueix
3. Harlan Estate
4. Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon
5. Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon
6. Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia
7. Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
8. Robert Mondavi To Kalon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

1. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon

The Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most sought-after cult wines. The 2016 vintage scored an average of 97 points from famous critics like Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate) and Wine Spectator. On average, this expensive wine costs around $4,700.

2. Dominus Estate Christian Moueix

The Dominus Estate Christian Moueix is a bold and structured red wine that costs around $329. The 2018 vintage scooped up 97 points from critics.

3. Harlan Estate

The Harlan Estate Bordeaux blend red wine costs roughly $1,500 per bottle. The 2018 vintage scored 98 points from critics.

4. Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon

The Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon costs about $350 per bottle, and the 2016 vintage had an average of 97 points.

5. Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine costs around $950 per bottle. The 2016 vintage scored an average of 97 points from  Wine Spectator, Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate), and other famous critics.

6. Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia

The Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia is an extraordinary wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon and traces of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. It costs around $280 per bottle, and the 2019 vintage scored 97 points on average from critics.

7.  Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

This delectable wine from the Silver Oak winery is made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon and traces of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon costs about $150 per bottle, and the 1985 vintage has an average critics’ score of 93.

8. Robert Mondavi To Kalon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

This drink from the Robert Mondavi Winery costs around $150. The 1996 vintage has an average critics’ score of 96.

Opus One vs Caymus Wine: Which One Is Your Favourite?

Choosing between Opus One and Caymus wine is quite tricky. But if you’re looking for an easy-drinking wine to sip while relaxing, go for Caymus.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for an age-worthy drink to add to your cellar, a fine Opus One bottle can be a great choice.

Visit the Vinovest website to invest in a fine Opus One bottle or any other age-worthy California wine. This platform helps you buy, store, and sell red wine, Pinot Noir, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and other bottles from San Francisco, the Alexander Valley, and worldwide.