Magazine Archives

Opus One: A New Day at Napa’s First-Growth
Nov 15, 2025

Opus One: A New Day at Napa’s First-Growth

It took time for Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild to decide on a name for their joint venture, a wine first bottled in the 1979 vintage. Some insiders dubbed it simply “Phil and Bob’s Big Red.” But it became Opus One, and the rest is history. In this issue’s cover story, we dive into the history and legacy of Opus One and look ahead to who is at the helm of a new and exciting era for this iconic estate and its showstopping wines. 

Plus, get our annual tasting reports on California Cabernet and Burgundy’s white wines as well as a producer spotlight and a special introduction to the newest white wines of the Southern Rhône!

Cover Stories

Composing Opus One

Composing Opus One

The legacy of Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild lives on in a new team of young talent
Nov 15, 2025
Opus One: 1979–2023

Opus One: 1979–2023

A 45-vintage vertical tasting shows the evolution of a California first-growth
Nov 15, 2025

Tasting Reports

Too Hot to Handle

Too Hot to Handle

Even Napa’s top producers struggled in the scorching 2022 vintage for Cabernet
Nov 15, 2025
Alphabetical Guide to California Cabernet

Alphabetical Guide to California Cabernet

Get scores for more than 500 Cabernet Sauvignon wines from California recently reviewed by Wine …
Nov 15, 2025
Napa Cabernet 2015: 10 Years After

Napa Cabernet 2015: 10 Years After

While shy of a classic rating, the vintage offers plenty of solid Cabernets still packed with fruit
Nov 15, 2025
Different Shades of White Burgundy

Different Shades of White Burgundy

The 2022 vintage is classic, with elite wines joined by more affordable versions from nearby parcels
Nov 15, 2025
Alphabetical Guide to White Burgundy

Alphabetical Guide to White Burgundy

Get scores for nearly 300 white wines from Burgundy recently reviewed by Wine Spectator, including …
Nov 15, 2025
Trading Up on New Zealand

Trading Up on New Zealand

Distinctive wines and producers’ green mindset fuel consumer appeal for the top bottlings
Nov 15, 2025
Alphabetical Guide to New Zealand

Alphabetical Guide to New Zealand

Get scores for nearly 200 wines from New Zealand recently reviewed by Wine Spectator, including top …
Nov 15, 2025
Play It Cool

Play It Cool

The global trend toward cooler-climate wines is yielding an array of outstanding buys
Nov 15, 2025
Gigondas Blanc: Exciting and New

Gigondas Blanc: Exciting and New

Get to know these Clairette-based white wines from the Southern Rhône
Nov 15, 2025

Features

AVA Spotlight: Coombsville

AVA Spotlight: Coombsville

This young AVA is proving its mettle among the top sites for Cabernet in California
Nov 15, 2025
A Generational Transition at Farella Vineyard

A Generational Transition at Farella Vineyard

The family estate helped put the Coombsville AVA on the map, but the future could be complicated
Nov 15, 2025

Grapevine

Article available on Oct 13, 2025. French Wineries Confront U.S. Tariffs

French Wineries Confront U.S. Tariffs

French vintners must decide how best to weather the storm of America’s newly imposed tariffs
Nov 15, 2025
Article available on Oct 13, 2025. Canary Islands Vintners Fight Back Against Phylloxera

Canary Islands Vintners Fight Back Against Phylloxera

This vineyard pest is threatening 500 years of traditional viticulture on this volcanic archipelago
Nov 15, 2025
Article available on Oct 13, 2025. Napa’s Dominus Buys Yountville Ranch Vineyard

Napa’s Dominus Buys Yountville Ranch Vineyard

Plus, Thomas Rivers Brown opens a tasting room in St. Helena
Nov 15, 2025
Steak Houses of a Different Cut

Steak Houses of a Different Cut

Next-wave chop houses are a canvas for a diverse array of cuisines and wines
Nov 15, 2025
A Taste of the European Blues

A Taste of the European Blues

Delicious choices to suit your blue cheese fancies
Nov 15, 2025
Savvy Shopper

Savvy Shopper

A quick look at some well-priced options from this issue’s Buying Guide
Nov 15, 2025

Departments

Opus One: An Epic Journey

Opus One: An Epic Journey

Raising a glass to one of California’s most iconic estates
Nov 15, 2025
The Biggest Mistake with 2022 Cabernet

The Biggest Mistake with 2022 Cabernet

It should have been a no-brainer for Napa wineries to drop prices on a lesser vintage
Nov 15, 2025
The Last Grape

The Last Grape

The Rhône’s often overlooked Muscardin grape is gaining attention in California
Oct 15, 2025
Article available on Oct 13, 2025. Regina King Creates a Tribute to Her Son with a New Wine Project

Regina King Creates a Tribute to Her Son with a New Wine Project

The actor, producer and director has launched a Mendocino orange wine with a family inspiration
Nov 15, 2025

The Buying Guide

The Buying Guide for this issue is available here.

TOP 100 WINES OF THE YEAR On Nov. 10, we begin unveiling the Top 10 Wines of 2025—complete with videos, tasting notes and more—culminating with the Wine of the Year on Nov. 14 and the complete Top 100 list on Nov. 17. Don’t miss the year’s most exciting wines!

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