2021 Overture by Opus One Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

A few summers ago, we got an indispensable glimpse into Opus One with Michael Silacci, who took over as winemaker in 2001. Silacci’s mantra has always been “enhance tradition and maintain innovation”—but the changes have not come quickly. 

“We’re always pursuing nuances,” Silacci told us. “We never really make huge changes. It’s the sum of all nuances that make a difference, so we’re constantly fine-tuning what we do, whether that’s in the vineyard or the cellar.” Considering that 15 of Wine Advocate’s top 16 vintages of Opus One have come on his watch, the effort has been a success. 

Even in light of sustained acclaim, Silacci remains humble. He also once gave an impromptu hour-long tour of Opus One to two visitors who seemed lost, and only at the very end—when one guest complimented him on his knowledge—did he mention he was the winemaker. 

Opus One and Overture grow on four unique vineyard plots in the choicest section of Oakville. At harvest, the fruit goes directly into the immaculate winery, where 170 acres’ worth of grapes are judged, one by one, as worthy or unworthy. From vineyard to tank, the journey rarely takes over twelve hours.

Overture has always been a snapshot of the Opus One vineyards across time. But the spectacular 2021 vintage was the perfect time to make their first-ever vintage-dated bottling. This release of Overture is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot, all from the 2021 vintage—one of the finest seasons this century. Given 19 days of skin contact and aged 19 months in French oak, it is drinking beautifully right now.