Philippe de Rothschild's and Robert Mondavi's joint venture in the early 1970s resulted in a cru of remarkable quality christened `Opus One'. The objective of Opus One was simple: to combine the expertise of Mouton-Rothschild and Mondavi in order to produce the very best red wine, equivalent to a Bordeaux Premier grand cru classé.

The second wine from Opus One, an estate born of a collaboration between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi, Overture was first made in 1993 with Bordeaux’s grands crus in mind. Made from the same parcels as the main Opus One wine, in Oakville (Napa Valley), the grapes cultivated are classics to French wine connoisseurs: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Overture is a blend of these varieties and also a blend of vintages, making it softer and rounder, hence more accessible in its youth.
Like its better-known counterpart, Overture expresses all the excellence of the Napa Valley terroir. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings notes of blackberry and blackcurrant, whilst the others contribute their share of black cherry, redcurrant, and violet. An extensive ageing in French oak casks confers a silky texture and some pleasant toasted notes, both of which call for classic pairings like a magret canard, if you’re so inclined.