As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can tell you that there are a few ways to determine the year of a bottle of Overture wine. Overture is a Bordeaux-style blend produced by Opus One, a renowned winery in Napa Valley.
One way to identify the bottling year is by looking at the Bottle ID, which is typically found on the back label of the bottle. The Bottle ID is a unique identifier that Opus One uses to track and trace each individual bottle. It usually consists of a combination of letters and numbers.
Below the Bottle ID, you may notice a faint grey line of numbers. This line of numbers is known as the bottling code and can provide valuable information about the wine. The last two digits of the bottling code often represent the year the wine was bottled. For example, if the code ends in “17,” it would indicate that the wine was bottled in 2017.
However, it's important to note that not all wineries follow the same system for their bottling codes. Some may use different methods or may not include the bottling year at all. Therefore, it's always a good idea to consult the winery's official website or contact them directly for more accurate information.
In my personal experience, I have encountered various methods used by different wineries to indicate the vintage on their bottles. Some wineries prominently display the vintage year on the front label, making it easy to identify at a glance. Others may include it in the fine print on the back label or even on the cork itself.
In the case of Overture wine, the bottling code with the last two digits representing the bottling year is a reliable indicator. However, it's worth mentioning that Opus One also produces other wines, such as their flagship Opus One Bordeaux blend, which has a different labeling system. The Overture bottling code is specific to this particular wine.
To summarize, the last two digits of the bottling code on an Overture bottle can generally tell you the year it was bottled. However, it's always a good idea to double-check with the winery or consult their official resources for more accurate information.