New Release: Opus One & Overture 2022

Opus One, Napa Valley, 2022 - £1410 per 6 IB (Excluding duty and VAT)

Opus One is the cornerstone of the Place de Bordeaux September releases. It is an estate that commands respect around the world; known for leading the way in quality, sustainability, dry farming and moderate alcohols, in a region that is grappling with global warming, wildfires and water shortages. It seldom fails to impress, and their 2022 iteration is no exception, bristling with dark berry fruit, spiced blackberry, blackcurrant, cedar and floral tones. On the palate it is fleshy and voluptuous with a little orange peel tang that freshens the brooding fruit. The floral notes persist and are overlaid by black pepper, olive, graphite and gravel. The finish is incredibly smart and long with fine dusty tannins that meld beautifully with the minerality from the palate.

Stylistically, the 2022 would appear to offer the culmination of Opus One’s recent move towards a fresher more elegant style. The precision on display is remarkable, as detailed flavours unfurl and unwind the longer the wine sits in the glass. There’s a sense of the modern/traditional about this bottling; a classically proportioned Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Petit Verdot 8%, Cabernet Franc 6.5%, Merlot 5%, and Malbec 0.5%) with a pivotal acidity that allows the fully ripe flavours to float across the palate. The 2022 vintage saw classic warm days and cold nights. Rain in the preceding winter replenished the water table. The only blip was a massive heat spike in September, which was anticipated. Opus decided to harvest before this to retain freshness and avoid the prodigious developing heat that arrived shortly after. The wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak and weighs in at a modest 13.9% abv.

The Opus team is on a mission to reduce its footprint and act more sustainably. At the winery this means ditching the water intensive grass in favour of native plants, it means co-inoculating their wines to allow alcoholic and malo-lactic fermentations to occur simultaneously (negating the need to warm the barrel rooms after alcoholic ferments are done), it means native yeasts and vineyard redevelopment with drought resistant rootstocks.

Also released today is the ever-reliable Overture 2022. Now made from a single vintage rather than as an NV blend, this wine is gaining in pedigree with every passing year. It now comes exclusively from their own vineyards and is raised in 100% new French oak, like its big brother. Effortlessly demonstrating classicism, with a fresh, fragrant fruit character, a beautifully elegant structure and tangy acidity on the finish. A wine one could very happily drink now.

“The 2022 Opus One was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color, it soars with eager-to-go notes of blackcurrant pastilles, juicy blackberries, and plum preserves leading to hints of crushed rocks, tree bark, and Sichuan pepper. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and impactful, with a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and bags of black fruit preserves layers, finishing with loads of savory nuances and a compelling lift.” 95-97 Points, Lis Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent (Tasted June 2024) Drink 2027-2053

“Smoky, fragrant and powerful, this has clear intensity with tightly-grained tannins. With coaxing, the body of the wine softens to show chalky tannins, crushed rose petals and violet flowers, impressive delicacy to the aromatics despite the heat of this vintage. Great stuff, once again showing how Opus knows when to take the foot off the pedal, how to sverve towards grace. Picking was exceptionally early, coming on August 24 for the Merlot, as they reacted to the forecast for a big heat dome. Michael Silacci director.” 96 Points, Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com (Tasted June 2025) Drink 2030-2045

“The 2022 Opus One is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. Winemaker Michael Silacci explained that this vintage marked the earliest pick ever at Opus One… And given the heat dome that settled over Napa Valley, it seemed a wise decision—deep ruby colour with a purple-tawny rim in the glass. The aromas are high-toned with cassis and graphite, and a cinnamon-dusted red berry character nuanced by the woody, spicy aromas of just-cut rose stems balanced by fresh rose petals and dark chocolate. On the palate, it's a creamy wine with a bit more satin or velvet texture than the 2021, and a touch more sweetness in the berry fruit, but balanced by the textural integrity of the tannins. The finish is sweetly floral and tamed by a salty mineral quality that lingers. There's a real brightness to this wine as it opens in the glass.” 97 Points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter Drink 2025-2040