Consistently excellent Bordeaux-style red blend
(Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc)
Fruit forward cherry, plum, blackberry, with a nice oakey finish
— 2 months ago
Popped and poured into red Solo cups. The 1995 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some decent sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe and some desiccated black and red fruits: black, currants, blackberries, black cherry, plum, cocoa, tobacco, old leather bound books, dried purple flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. I sometimes feel like Cardinale is an overlooked label in the Jackson Family lineup. It’s been around for decades and these wines always impressed me, especially with age. Drink now through 2035. — 3 months ago
Opus One Overture Red Blend N/V
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A second wine from Opus One Winery, Overture is crafted as a multi-vintage Bordeaux-style blend, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Unlike the estate’s grand vin, Overture blends across several vintages to achieve harmony, depth, and consistency. This wine edition includes 2014, 2015, and 2016, vintages that shows the elegance and complexity of extended barrel aging.
Aromas & Flavors
Nose: red currants, ripe cherry, and fresh red fruit, wrapped in earthy tones of mahogany, cocoa powder, and vanilla spice.
Palate: rounded and expressive, with plush dark fruit layered over subtle tobacco, cedar, and espresso. The oak influence creates warmth and complexity without overwhelming the fruit.
Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full-bodied, velvety in texture, with smooth tannins and a long, polished finish. The extended oak elevates its creaminess, while freshness keeps it balanced.
Winemaking & Style
Barrel-aged longer than the main Opus One lots, this wine achieves silky integration of fruit and oak. The flexibility of blending across vintages results in a wine of remarkable harmony and immediate drinkability, while still capable of short-term aging.
Food Pairing
Excellent with grilled ribeye, lamb shanks, duck breast, or mushroom risotto. Also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses or a dark chocolate finale.
Verdict
A luxurious, multi-vintage blend that captures the soul of Opus One in a more approachable, versatile package. Refined, elegant, and deeply satisfying, Overture is a wine to savor now or cellar briefly for added nuance.
— 5 months ago
I asked for a jammy red and that’s what this is !! Not super into these “commercialized” wines, but it does the job for easy drinking. Yum — 10 months ago
My old chap cried a single tear of gooey joy drinking this beauty. — 6 years ago
Blend of about 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Semillon, aged in oak for 8 months. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with biscuit and floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, golden apple and melon with white floral and herb notes. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, herb and yeasty notes, lively acidity with slight smoky mineral character. Small production, nice, good now! — 2 months ago
The best Merlot in my honest opinion. Coming from a Cab guy. — 2 months ago
Drank in Rome in CiPasso. Beautifully balanced and paired with pasta! — 2 months ago
2014 vintage. Last tasted 07.04.25 (9.3) and 01.30.25 (9.3). Decanted with some sed and tasted after 30 mins. Consistent with previous tastings in 2025. Hint of richness up front, then very businesslike afterwards. Fairly dry but began to fold a modicum of fruit into the proceedings a spell ago. Quintessential, affordable BDX with a decade of service tendered out in the boonies but back in town again and starting to hit the hot spots. Lean but not mean. Strike up the conversation in the next year or so and you two just might hit it off. 09.25.25. — 3 months ago
A Merlot fan favorite. Highly recommend for all occasions. — 6 months ago
White flowers, strawberry, rhubarb, white peach. Medium bodied with structured acidity. Lovely on a hot day but has enough heft to pair well with salmon pasta. — 6 months ago
Very smooth and enjoyable. Really enjoying this Merlot. — 7 months ago
A Burgundian-styled Cab Sauv from the one of the most compelling Sub AVA of Napa mountains (Mayacamas) which has an amazing soil and solid influence from the Pacific. Crafted with an amazing balance of 68% Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot, 5% and the rest to round it off its structure and age ability. The 2011 is still climbing to its peak. Enticing notes of dry red fruits on the nose and mouth, delicate, outstandingly silky and nearly perfect balance!
The finish shows its beauty. (if you find it, it won’t disappoint you) it will give the run for the money. — 10 months ago
1998 in 2016! Drinking like an absolute dream. Soft but lively and all kinds of delicious. — 10 years ago
Dinner at the Savoy Grill. — 2 months ago
Smooth and gentle, with a prominent nose of crisp red fruit, somewhat dark, with strawberries, pencil shavings/graphite, with some notes of blood orange rind, maybe some coffee and a hint of vanilla and iron. Deep garnet color, with hints of purple to the edges. Palate is somewhat meaty after some time and air, with well integrated tannins, — 2 months ago
Before I get into the notes, Flora Springs “Trilogy” is one of those wines from my formative years in this wine journey. Subsequently, it holds a special place in my heart. You can probably imagine how excited I was to enjoy the 1994 a vintage I likely drank long ago, out of a double-magnum no less! Giddy.
Popped and poured from double-magnum into red Solo cups and enjoyed her the course of an hour. The 1994 “Trilogy” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark and red fruits: brambles, currants, plums, tobacco, old leather, dusty earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is silky. The large format has no doubt had an effect on this wine’s nearly evergreen properties but what a treat! Drink now regardless of format and enjoy this in its full maturity. — 4 months ago
An amazing Cab. Love the bold, color and aroma. — 10 months ago
Yummy. Would drink again. Great for a glass. — 8 years ago
One of the best wines for the price. — 13 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I have never had a bad bottle of BVT in any vintage 15+ yrs in bottle. Likely $28-$30 on release.
Last day of California Indian Summer.
@Chaminade — a month ago