Overture by Opus One 2022 is an exceptional Napa Valley red wine from the legendary Opus One estate, awarded 94 points by Decanter and 94 points by Owen Bargreen. Crafted from organically grown estate grapes in Oakville, California, this elegant second wine expresses the heritage, meticulous winemaking and refinement of Opus One through concentrated dark fruit, aromatic complexity, supple texture and remarkable freshness.

First created in 1993, Overture was conceived as a traditional second wine in the Bordeaux tradition. Selected from the same estate vineyards as Opus One, it is produced with the same dedication to careful cultivation, fruit selection and precise vinification, while developing its own distinctive expression of approachability, elegance and balance.

Historically produced as a non-vintage blend combining wines from multiple harvest years, Overture entered a new chapter with the introduction of vintage-dated releases beginning in 2021. The 2022 therefore offers an individual expression of a single Napa Valley growing season.

The final blend is led by an extraordinary 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by 3% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Merlot, 1% Malbec and 0.5% Petit Verdot. This Cabernet-dominant composition provides a focused expression of Oakville fruit while preserving the fragrant, approachable character for which Overture is recognised.

The 2022 growing season presented significant challenges, including an unusually dry late winter, turbulent late-spring weather and a period of extreme temperatures during harvest. The estate's experienced vineyard team responded with careful vineyard management, advance preparation for the heatwave and selective irrigation according to individual vine requirements.

Harvest began on August 24 and concluded on September 26, 2022. Despite the difficult conditions, the selected fruit achieved impressive flavour development while retaining the acidity and freshness central to the wine's character.

In the glass, Overture 2022 reveals an expressive bouquet of bright cherry, fresh woodland berries and rose stems, accompanied by delicate violet, toasted almond and anise. These fragrant layers create an attractive balance between fruit, floral elegance and subtle savoury complexity.

The palate offers generous blackberry, blueberry and wild cherry flavours, supported by lively acidity that gives the wine freshness and definition. Its harmonious texture and carefully structured tannins allow the fruit to remain expressive without excessive heaviness.

The finish is long and rounded, revealing elegant notes of mocha and black tea. These deeper characteristics add complexity and provide a sophisticated counterpoint to the wine's vibrant berry fruit.

The wine underwent 20 days of skin contact and matured for 18 months in new French oak barrels. The ageing process contributes depth and structure while supporting the integration of its concentrated fruit, aromatic nuances and fine tannins.

Decanter's 94-point assessment highlights the clarity of the wine's Cabernet Sauvignon character, its attractive blueberry, dark cherry, rose and cinnamon aromas, and the energetic acidity that brings lift and precision to the palate.

With its distinguished Opus One heritage, 94-point professional recognition, estate-grown fruit and beautifully balanced Cabernet Sauvignon character, Overture 2022 is an outstanding selection for serious Napa Valley wine enthusiasts, fine dining, thoughtful gifting and memorable occasions.

Opus One describes the 2022 growing season as challenging but ultimately successful, with vineyard management and careful fruit selection playing essential roles in achieving exceptional flavours and freshness.

Early Winter Rainfall: Early-winter precipitation delivered approximately 12 inches more rainfall than the preceding year. This provided additional water reserves following the exceptionally dry 2021 season.

Late Winter: The weather became unseasonably dry, changing the vineyard's moisture conditions as the new growing season approached.

Late Spring: Weather conditions were unsettled and occasionally turbulent. Nevertheless, the producer reports that flowering and fruit set were not significantly affected.

Summer Development: Vineyard management focused on the individual requirements of the vines and the preservation of balanced fruit development as the grapes matured.

Harvest Heatwave: Extreme temperatures during harvest required particularly careful decisions regarding picking schedules and vineyard protection.

Advance Preparation: The experienced vineyard team implemented preventative measures before the heatwave arrived, helping protect fruit quality and preserve favourable ripening conditions.

Selective Irrigation: Irrigation was applied according to the specific needs of the vines rather than uniformly across all vineyard parcels.

Harvest Start: August 24, 2022.

Harvest Completion: September 26, 2022.

Final Result: The winery reports remarkable flavour development and exceptional freshness despite the challenging temperatures.

The resulting Overture 2022 showcases expressive fruit, bright acidity and harmonious texture, demonstrating the importance of careful vineyard decisions during an unusually demanding Napa Valley season.

For this vintage, the estate's successful preservation of freshness is one of the most important qualities distinguishing Overture's style.

Official Winemaker's Assessment: A fragrant, expressive red wine with bright cherry, fresh forest berries, floral and savoury aromatics, followed by blackberry, blueberry and wild cherry on the palate. Lively acidity provides definition, while mocha and black tea contribute complexity to the rounded, persistent finish.

Appearance: Rich ruby-red, consistent with its Cabernet Sauvignon-led composition. The actual colour may evolve with bottle development.

Primary Aromas: Bright cherry and fresh forest berries.

Floral Character: Freshly cut rose stems and delicate violet.

Additional Aromatics: Toasted almond and anise contribute gentle nutty and aromatic spice complexity.

Palate: Blackberry, blueberry and wild cherry, supported by an appealing balance of generous fruit and refreshing acidity.

Texture: Supple and rounded, consistent with the estate's intention to produce an approachable second wine with excellent finesse.

Acidity: Lively, creating a fresh and energetic impression that balances the richness of the dark fruit.

Finish: Long and rounded, revealing subtle mocha and black tea.

Overall Style: A refined, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Napa Valley red combining expressive dark fruit, floral elegance, fresh acidity, integrated oak and substantial ageing potential.

The central fruit, floral, nutty and savoury descriptors are drawn from Opus One's official tasting notes for the 2022 Overture. The producer does not publish an exact numerical tannin or acidity measurement in the supplied sheet.

Overture by Opus One 2022 has received 94 points from Decanter and 94 points from Owen Bargreen, confirming the quality of its focused Cabernet Sauvignon expression and beautifully balanced character.

• 94 Points — Decanter, Georgie Hindle, July 2025: The review praises the wine's clear Cabernet Sauvignon identity, expressive dark cherry, blueberry, rose and cinnamon-bark aromas. Its concentrated fruit is supported by vibrant acidity and a particularly polished, elegant structure. Hindle highlights the wine's refinement and precision without excessive weight.
• 94 Points — Owen Bargreen, January 2026: Bargreen describes an attractive, fresh and well-textured wine featuring dark-fruit concentration, espresso-ground nuances and excellent balance. His published drinking guidance extends through 2035.

Both reviews highlight the ability of Overture 2022 to deliver generous Napa Valley fruit while maintaining freshness and balance.

Wine-Specific Ratings: These scores apply to Overture 2022, the estate's second wine. They must not be confused with scores for the separate Opus One 2022 grand vin.

Vintage-Specific Identity: Historical reviews of Overture's earlier non-vintage releases do not represent this 2022 bottling, which has its own blend, vintage conditions and ageing specifications.

Professional scores reflect the assessment of the individual publication and do not guarantee the development or condition of every bottle.

Overture 2022 is crafted from five classic Bordeaux grape varieties grown on the Opus One estate in Oakville, Napa Valley.

• Cabernet Sauvignon: 94%
• Cabernet Franc: 3%
• Merlot: 1.5%
• Malbec: 1%
• Petit Verdot: 0.5%
• Harvest: August 24 – September 26, 2022
• Skin Contact: 20 days
• Barrel Ageing: 18 months in new French oak

Cabernet Sauvignon: The dominant grape variety, contributing the wine's central black-fruit expression, structural foundation and classic Oakville Cabernet character.

Cabernet Franc: Contributes complementary aromatic lift, herbal nuance and complexity to the finished blend.

Merlot: Adds softness and a rounded textural element, supporting the estate's desire for an inviting, supple second wine.

Malbec: Provides a small contribution to the blend's dark-fruit character and structural complexity.

Petit Verdot: Completes the composition with additional aromatic and tannic nuance.

Organically Grown Estate Fruit: The producer identifies the grapes as organically grown on its own vineyards. This statement describes the estate's growing practices and is not a separate claim that the finished wine holds an organic-wine certification.

Fruit Selection: The winemaking team evaluates wines from individual vineyard blocks during and after harvest, selecting those whose aromatics, flavours and textures best express Overture's distinctive character.

Skin Contact: Twenty days of contact between juice and grape skins contribute to the wine's colour, flavour concentration and tannic structure.

French Oak: The 2022 wine matured for 18 months in new French oak barrels, according to the official technical sheet. The process supports the development and integration of fruit, spice and structural complexity.

Result: A focused, sophisticated Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blend combining exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon concentration with an approachable, fruit-expressive and beautifully balanced palate.

Overture originates from the estate vineyards of Opus One in Oakville, one of the Napa Valley's most respected wine-growing areas.

Situated in California's Napa Valley, Oakville is particularly celebrated for Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends that combine ripe fruit, textural depth and fine tannic structure.

Opus One draws inspiration from the traditions of Bordeaux while expressing the distinctive character of its California vineyards.

The estate's vineyards contain different parcels and soil characteristics, giving the winemaking team opportunities to identify fruit with distinct aromatic and structural qualities.

For Overture, selected vineyard blocks are evaluated specifically for the approachable, fragrant, supple and harmonious personality that distinguishes the second wine from Opus One's flagship bottling.

The 2022 vintage demonstrates the estate's careful response to extreme temperatures, using timely harvest decisions and selective vineyard irrigation to preserve fruit character and freshness.

Overture 2022 reflects the relationship between Napa Valley's expressive Cabernet Sauvignon character and the precise, traditional winemaking philosophy established by Opus One.

Overture is the traditional second wine of Opus One, produced from the estate's own vineyards and guided by the same commitment to quality.

Opus One: The estate's flagship wine, blended to represent its most distinctive expression of vineyard character and the winemaking team's vision for the vintage.

Overture: A separately selected second wine, designed to emphasise fresh fruit, aromatic expression, supple tannins, creamy texture and approachable balance.

The two wines may be produced from the same estate vineyards, but they have different final blends and independent tasting identities.

The 2022 Overture is especially Cabernet Sauvignon-led, with 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, compared with the different composition of the estate's flagship 2022 Opus One.

Vintage Dating: Earlier Overture releases traditionally blended multiple vintages. Beginning with the 2021 vintage, the estate adopted a vintage-dated approach, allowing the wine to express the conditions of an individual growing season.

Overture 2022 should therefore be recognised as a distinctive, vintage-specific Napa Valley wine rather than simply a less expensive bottle of Opus One.

Overture by Opus One 2022 combines expressive dark fruit, lively acidity and carefully managed tannins, making it suitable for refined enjoyment now as well as further cellaring.

• Suggested Serving Temperature: Approximately 16–18°C to preserve its berry fruit, floral character and refreshing balance.
• Glassware: A generous Bordeaux-style red wine glass.
• Suggested Decanting: Taste upon opening. Approximately 30–60 minutes of aeration may help a youthful or relatively closed bottle, depending on its present condition.
• Published Drinking Guidance: Owen Bargreen suggests a drinking window of 2025–2035.
• Producer's Cellaring Outlook: The estate describes the wine as suitable for graceful development over a number of years.
• Cellar Storage: Maintain a consistently cool, dark and vibration-free environment, ideally around 12–15°C.
• Bottle Orientation: Wines with natural cork closures are traditionally stored horizontally under suitable cellar conditions.
• Provenance: Store and transport carefully to protect the wine's condition and continued development.

BBPH Guidance: Overture's approachable character makes the 2022 suitable for customers who prefer expressive fruit and a supple texture, while its Cabernet Sauvignon concentration and oak maturation also provide potential for additional complexity with bottle age.

The suggested serving temperature, decanting and storage practices are provided by Barrels & Beyond PH. The published drinking window is attributed to Owen Bargreen rather than presented as a winery guarantee.

The generous black-fruit character, refined tannins, fresh acidity and gentle oak complexity of Overture 2022 create excellent possibilities for pairing with premium meats, savoury sauces and carefully prepared European cuisine.

• Grilled Rib-Eye Steak: A beautifully seared rib-eye with rosemary, sea salt and a restrained savoury jus.
• Beef Tenderloin: Roasted tenderloin with porcini mushrooms, thyme or a traditional red wine reduction.
• Prime Rib: Herb-roasted prime rib with garlic and seasonal vegetables.
• Rack of Lamb: Rosemary-crusted lamb with roasted garlic and savoury accompaniments.
• Duck Breast: Pan-seared duck with wild mushrooms or a restrained cherry reduction.
• Braised Short Ribs: Slowly cooked beef with deep savoury flavours and a balanced sauce.
• Wild Mushroom Risotto: Porcini or forest mushroom risotto with herbs and carefully balanced seasoning.
• Roast Venison: Tender game with rosemary, juniper and gently prepared vegetables.
• Aged Cheeses: Mature Comté, Gruyère and selected firm cheeses with nutty, savoury flavours.
• Black Truffle: Beef or mushroom dishes with restrained black-truffle accents.

Overture 2022 is especially well matched with dishes that balance protein richness and savoury depth without excessive sweetness or aggressive spice.

These pairings are curated by Barrels & Beyond PH and are not presented as official recommendations from Opus One.

• Producer: Opus One
• Wine Name: Overture by Opus One
• Vintage: 2022
• Wine Classification: Second Wine of Opus One
• Wine Type: Dry Still Red Wine
• Wine Style: Cabernet Sauvignon-Led Bordeaux-Style Blend
• Country: United States
• State: California
• Region: Napa Valley
• Appellation: Oakville, Napa Valley
• Grape Origin: Organically Grown Estate Fruit
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 94%
• Cabernet Franc: 3%
• Merlot: 1.5%
• Malbec: 1%
• Petit Verdot: 0.5%
• Harvest Start: August 24, 2022
• Harvest Completion: September 26, 2022
• Skin Contact: 20 Days
• Barrel Ageing: 18 Months
• Oak: New French Oak
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Alcohol Content: Verify Supplied Bottle Label
• Appearance: Ruby-Red
• Official Aromas: Bright Cherry, Forest Berries, Rose Stems, Violet, Toasted Almond, Anise
• Official Palate: Blackberry, Blueberry, Wild Cherry, Lively Acidity
• Official Finish: Mocha, Black Tea, Long and Rounded
• Decanter: 94 Points, Georgie Hindle, July 2025
• Owen Bargreen: 94 Points, January 2026
• Owen Bargreen Drinking Window: 2025–2035
• Suggested Serving Temperature: 16–18°C, BBPH Guidance
• Suggested Decanting: Assess on Opening; 30–60 Minutes if Appropriate
• Storage: Cool, Dark, Stable Conditions
• Food Pairings: Grilled Beef, Lamb, Duck, Venison, Mushrooms, Aged Cheeses
• Allergen: Verify Sulphite Declaration on Supplied Bottle

Opus One is one of Napa Valley's most celebrated fine-wine estates, born from the vision of two influential figures in the history of wine: Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and California wine pioneer Robert Mondavi.

The partnership was conceived in 1978, bringing together the traditions and expertise of Bordeaux with the distinctive fruit character and innovative spirit of Napa Valley.

Their ambition was to create an exceptional Bordeaux-style red wine that would express the unique characteristics of the Napa Valley while embodying the precision and elegance of traditional European winemaking.

The estate was established in Oakville, where Cabernet Sauvignon and other classic Bordeaux varieties flourish in a distinctive combination of California sunshine, carefully managed vineyards and diverse soils.

Opus One became internationally recognised for its meticulous vineyard practices, selective blending and finely crafted wines.

First created in 1993, Overture was developed as the estate's second wine, inspired by the tradition of Bordeaux's second labels.

The winemaking team selects individual vineyard blocks and wine components that express Overture's desired combination of fresh fruit, aromatic elegance, supple structure and approachability.

The adoption of vintage-dated Overture releases beginning with 2021 marked an important evolution, placing greater emphasis on the distinctive character of each growing season.

Overture by Opus One 2022 demonstrates the estate's ability to combine classic Cabernet Sauvignon concentration with freshness, elegant winemaking and an inviting personality of its own.

At Barrels & Beyond PH, we appreciate Overture 2022 for its expressive Cabernet Sauvignon character and remarkably balanced combination of ripe fruit, freshness and refined structure.

Its generous blackberry, blueberry and cherry flavours are complemented by fragrant florals, toasted almond, mocha and black tea, creating a wine with genuine complexity and gastronomic versatility.

With 94-point recognition from Decanter and Owen Bargreen, 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 months in new French oak and the pedigree of the Opus One estate, Overture 2022 is a distinguished Napa Valley selection for collectors, wine enthusiasts and memorable dining occasions.