2 hour decant(little fine sediment). A striking dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic notes with perfumed dark berries, forest floor, spearment, smoked meat, truffles. Taste: silky, layered, plush wine with dark plum/cherry, milk chocolate, smokey cedar, earth, and a peppery graphite medium plus dry finish. YUM! Drinks well with the decant and time to go. — 2 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.
— 4 months ago
Mid crimson with a tawny rim showing its age. Just as impressive as the 2000 vintage which tends to get the accolades. This blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Aromatics of an old flower arrangement that had dried off with mature black fruits and cedar. My last bottle at 24 years of age but many say this could carry on until the mid 2030s. A classic Bordeaux living up to its “Super Second” standing. — 4 months ago
Exactly what you would expect from Bordeaux. Excellent. definitely needs more time but really quite an impressive second wine. — 6 months ago
This producer is in a class of its own.
No signs of maturity. Pure notes of saddle leather and oak on the nose. A pure expression of Bdx with balance and power. Mid palate displays mature cherries and a hint of olives. Grainy tannins play second fiddle to prominent acidity.
My mental shortcut here is; GET SOME!
Thanks Rick. — 2 months ago
La Sirène de Giscours – Margaux 2015
Margaux, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
Overview
Second label of the prestigious 3rd Growth Château Giscours, this cuvée shows how even secondary bottlings from classified estates can age with grace. The 2015 blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, delivering structure, elegance, and finesse in perfect harmony.
Aromas & Flavors
Vivid layers of ripe blackcurrant, raspberry, and plum glide alongside subtle cedar, tobacco, and floral spice. Delicate hints of earth and minerality frame the fruit beautifully.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with polished tannins, silky texture, and a seamless balance between freshness and maturity. The finish is long, refined, and quietly powerful.
Food Pairing
Versatile with roast lamb, duck breast, or aged Comté. It also complements charcuterie or hard cheeses in a more casual setting.
Verdict
An elegant Margaux that proves second labels are no afterthought. Still very much alive, refined, and balanced—an absolute pleasure to drink.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This wine reinforces my belief that second labels can often surprise and delight. The finesse and silkiness here rival many first labels—proof that patience rewards and that Margaux elegance never fails. — 2 months ago
From back when Mouton was still a Second Growth. Decanted prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 1966 pours a garnet color with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with light staining and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cassis, blackberries, green pepper, tobacco, leather, old wood, organic earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This was a good showing for the ‘66 and certainly has life left in it however, there’s no need to hold out. Drink now. — 5 months ago
Rick Phillips
Decanted for 3 hours. Opened beautiful with deep cherry & leather flavors. This is an underrated Bordeaux in my opinion. — 14 days ago