Overture by Opus One Napa Valley Red 2021 750ml

Description

Expert Review – Vintage 2021

Decanter 93 Points | The first time specific blocks have been used for this wine. Dark forest berry notes on the nose with perfumed elements and notes of milk chocolate. Supple and agile, generous with textured, slightly grainy tannins that are so pleasant – expansive and round in the mouth. It’s well built and very approachable with blackcurrant and black cherry flavours on the palate. Concentrated, deep and layered but still with elegance. Extremely characterful. A blend of the 2018 and 2019 vintages with 18 months ageing in French oak barrels. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Winemaker Description

Overture 2021, the first vintage-dated bottling of the second wine of Opus One, offers fresh aromas of plum, blackberry, and cherry enhanced by alluring notes of dried rose petal, forest floor, and earthy minerality. Juicy and bright on the palate with distinctive flavors of black currant, blueberry, and fraises du bois; the wine delivers a velvety texture with powdery tannins. Subtle coffee and dark chocolate round out the long finish coupled with a well-integrated acidity.
Overture is a reflection of our Opus One estate vineyards. This remarkable terroir expresses itself in the complex aromas, flavors and especially, textures of Overture. The classic blackberry and cassis character of Cabernet Sauvignon melds seamlessly with the black cherry, red currant and violet from the Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

In 2021, the vineyards experienced unseasonably dry conditions with the second lowest rainfall in Opus Ones history. The vineyard team took advantage of the dryness to cultivate early to avoid unnecessary competition for the limited water available. Cooler temperatures prevailed, and rains in late March arrived just in time for the slightly delayed bud-break on April 7th.

Warmer weather in April and May allowed for ideal shoot growth and flowering began on May 17th. Reduced water led to lower-than-average yields, which gave the fruit exceptional concentration and flavor at harvest. The summer months were very warm; however, there were no prolonged periods over 100 degrees. Harvest began on August 31st and was steady and brief, with completion occurring on September 24th.