Critics Ratings

‘Closed and tight right now, there are clear bright and well-defined cassis notes but those tannins still have grip and attitude, and it is pretty clear that a full ten years in bottle is not always enough to fully soften Opus. This vintage saw a very low yield, two tonnes instead of the usual four, due not only to the heat spell in September but also because it was the last year of an irrigation programe where they were restricting water to drive the roots further down into the soil. 1% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 22 days skin contact.’ – Jane Anson, Decanter.com, 96/100 (Sep 2019)

‘A gorgeous wine, the 2008 Opus One is just beginning to enter its first plateau of maturity. The tannins have softened while the aromatics show lovely complexity as well as depth. Blueberry, blackberry, gravel, lavender, licorice, leather and dark spice notes all add character. The 2008 is an especially dark, somber Opus One, although the softening tannins make the wine approachable today. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec.’ – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 95/100 (Sep 2017)

‘The 2008 Opus One showed well, with medium to full-bodied richness as well as some classic, mature Cabernet notes of smoked tobacco, truffle, celery seed, and chocolate-laced darker fruits. It has a good sense of finesse and elegance, is nicely balanced, and incredibly satisfying today. It should keep through 2033 or thereabout, although there’s no need to hold off.’ – Jeb Dunnuck, Decanter.com, 93/100 (Feb 2023)

‘Graceful and elegant, very understated and delicate, with floral, spice, mint, bay leaf, currant, cedar and tobacco notes that are complex and vibrant. Full-bodied, gaining on the finish, then firming and drying. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Drink now through 2021.’ – James Laube, Wine Spectator, 92/100 (Nov 2011)

Provenance

The Coats Family Cellar is arguably the most prestigious fine wine collection ever offered in South Africa. It contains a deep collection of the worlds finest, most sought-after wines, spanning over 150 years. Collected over many decades, the cellar was imported from Ireland to South Africa via reefer. Each bottle within the Coats Family Cellar was authenticated by Michael Egan in August 2022 and given an ID number for tracking.

Michael Egan is a world-expert in fine and rare wines with more than thirty five years of experience. He was the principal expert for the plaintiff in the two major wine counterfeiting trials in Koch v. Eric Greenberg and United States v. Rudy Kurniawan, both of which occurred in 2013.

Along with Michael Egan, the Strauss & Co Fine Wine team have tasted extensively through the cellar and are confident of the wine storage and hence quality. The entire collection is currently stored at Wine Cellar.