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Orin Swift

8 products

sale price $54.99
A focus on geographic diversity has been a principle of ours or many years. Sourcing grapes from across California gives us the flexibility to produce wines when some regions are affected by forces outside of our control. But when the entire state experiences a great vintage, the diversity can sometimes be a problem…a good problem. Extensive tastings of trial blends are difficult when each blend is great for specific reasons. But in the end, we all agreed on the blend in front of you, comprised of fruit from across California — Sonoma Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands, Sta. Rita Hills and many more. <br><br> <b>WINEMAKER’S NOTES</b><br> Crisp crimson in the glass, the 2021 Slander opens with notes of wild strawberry, pomegranate, Bing cherry and cedar. Secondary aromatics abound, with hints of redwood grove underbrush, white pepper and earth. Delicate on entry, the palate is flooding with red plum, cherry cola, rhubarb and spices. A touch of cocoa powder on the finish, the wine closes with confident acidity and length.

sale price $79.99
It's rare to find a wine from the Napa Valley composed of all five Bordeaux-style varietals, but for many years, that has been Papillon's focus. The raw strength and prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon buttressed by the opulence of Merlot, the spiciness of Cabernet Franc, the depth of Malbec and the sheer unctuousness of Petit Verdot come together seamlessly. The 2021 Papillon is sourced from Napa Valley growers we've worked with for decades-Stagecoach Vineyard, Indian Joe, Morisoli Vineyard and even a touch from the Monte Rosso Vineyard over on Moon Mountain, just to name a few. <br><br><i>Our good friend and fellow winemaker, Greg Gorman, photographed the label.</i><br><br> The 2021 Papillon fills the glass with an unmistakable dark crimson, a flash of neon purple and a ruby rim. Tears move glacially and the wine opens with aromatics of boysenberry jam, violets, chocolate covered blueberry and hints of Cara Cara rind, graphite and brioche. The entry and mid-palate are bright throughout with considerable weight-tones of cassis, blackberry and baking spices flourish. Enveloping texture, chalky, drying tannins and an enduring finish bows out the wine.

sale price $175.00
When we decided not to make Mercury Head in 2020, the anticipation for the next release was palpable. In the cellar, we were giddy, ready to assemble a blend worthy of the famed dimes. The 2021 vintage was fortuitous in both yield and quality, giving us a lot of components to make trial blends with. We’re very excited to bring back Mercury Head as 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from both the Stagecoach and Warnock Vineyards on Atlas Peak, the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford and the Taplin Vineyard in St. Helena. <br><br> <b>WINEMAKER’S NOTES</b><br> An almost-black, opaque garnet core sit s in the glass with slow-moving tears falling down the sides. Immediate aromatic notes of ripe cassis, charred ribeye, sandalwood and freshly cut oak pilfer—breathe deeper for more. The first sip is a complex, layered conundrum of blackberry, black plum, fennel, licorice and dark chocolate. More sips peel back the layers to reveal a rich and balanced wine with a deep cassis core. A sweet linger on the finish closes the wine with softly textured chalky tannins.

sale price $59.99
Blending trials for Machete are amongst the favorite for each vintage. A Petite Sirah-based wine, the trial tastings leave everyone with purple teeth and a puckered palate. It can also be the most exhausting. However, after various tastings and blend iterations, the 2020 Machete is true to the style of being approachable for the highly tannic and visceral varietal. Prominent vineyards across the state make up the blend including the Frei Ranch, Barrelli, Snows Lake, Monte Rosso, Dark Horse, Stones Throw, Zaca Mesa and Summerwind vineyards. <br><br> A dark mauve core with a neon purple rim, the wine stains everything. Opening aromatics on the 2020 Machete are gorgeous immediately: ripe pluot, carne asada, new cowboy boots, lilacs, espresso bean and wet concrete. On the palate, layers upon layers reveal themselves, from a plum galette topped with fior di latte gelato to 85% cacao dark chocolate to barbequed tri-tip and sweet oak. Puckering tannins to finish, the wine closes on a high note with a touch of blood orange zest and lingering acidity.

sale price $39.99
Golden straw in the glass with a flash of emerald, the wine opens with notes of ripe Bosc pear, lemon meringue, and white flowers. On the palate, the entry is coating with yellow peach, honeydew, and wet stone along with a mid of palmiers, tostones and ripe stone fruit. The finish is accentuated by a seam of acidity and leaves one with hints of lemon pith and butterscotch.

sale price $49.99
Being stranded in a desert leaves a lot to be desired — how to get back home, where to find food, water and shelter, and thoughts of survival. For eight years in the early 2010s, Orin Swift Cellars was barred from making any Zinfandel wines. From the grape that started everything OSC, the ‘desert’ gave us an opportunity to explore the diverse range of California’s grape varietals. But, as soon as those eight years were up, we had a plan in place to pay homage to our home. The 2021 Eight Years in the Desert marks the sixth iteration of our return to the world of Zinfandel. <br><br> A deep maroon core with a ruby rim, the 2021 Eight Years in the Desert opens with aromas of wild blackberry, pepper, oatmeal raisin cookie, Sequoia forest floor, bay leaf and spices. The entry is broad and opulent with a mid-palate of brambly raspberry, black cherry, ripe blueberry and a hint of cacao. The wine has superb length through the finish with ripe tannins and a close of sweet oak.

sale price $39.99
One of many definitions of the word, abstract, is a summary of something larger, encompassing the crucial elements, making it easy to comprehend on the fly. Abstract, in its own way, is an abstract of our winemaking mission and ethos at Orin Swift. It will always have our signature approach, comprised of fruit from quality vineyards across California and creates conversations-be it about the wine or the label. For those new to Orin Swift, Abstract is a beloved starting point on a journey with us. <br><br> <b>WINEMAKER'S NOTES</b><br> An opaque purple core with a glowing mauve rim, the 2021 Abstract brings forth opening aromas of muddled blue and blackberries with a frame of dark chocolate brownie and seasoned leather. The wine enters with class, being soft and lush, with notes of ripe plum, boysenberry and Santa Maria tri-tip. Grippy, chewy tannins, the wine closes with pleasing sarsaparilla and blackcurrant.

sale price $54.99
Poured as a dark garnet, the wine opens with primary aromas of ripe cassis and blackberry. Supporting hints of dark chocolate, toasted oak and cedar support the typical Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon nose. The entry is flooding with notes of dark fruits and a mid-palate bolstered with redcurrant, bay leaf and a reemergence of cassis. The wine closes with well-developed tannins and a striking minerality despite the supple and soft finish.
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