Opus One Overture Red 2021

First created in 1993, Overture by Opus One is a traditional “second wine” meticulously
crafted with organically grown fruit from the estate vineyards. The fruit is harvested and vinified with the same care, precision, and attention to detail as Opus One. During and after harvest, the winemaking team rigorously evaluates the wines from each vineyard block and blends only those with the unique aromatics, flavors, and textures recognized as ideal for Overture—a cellar-worthy wine with remarkable freshness, approachability, and suppleness.

VINTAGE 2021
In 2021, the vineyards experienced unseasonably dry conditions with the second-lowest rainfall in Opus One’s history. The vineyard team used dryness to cultivate early to avoid unnecessary competition due to 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, which 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 hot; there were no prolonged periods over 100 degrees. Harvest began on August 31st and was steady and brief, with completion occurring on September 24th.

Overture 2021, the first vintage-dated bottling of Opus One's second wine, offers fresh aromas of plum, blackberry, and cherry enhanced by alluring notes of dried rose petals, 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.

VARIETALS
Cabernet Sauvignon 89%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 4% and Merlot 3%

SKIN CONTACT
19 days

BARREL AGING
19.5 months in new French oak