Fine Wines From Orin Swift

Of all the bottles on all the shelves in our store, it’s hard for any one wine to stand out against the others. The wines from Orin Swift (winemaker Dave Phinney) however, do stand out. Not merely because of their fashionably artistic labels, and stout, hefty, black glass bottles, no, but because of the experimental and expertly blended wines held therein.

Take Machete, for example, the latest wine from Orin Swift. A blend of 49% Petite Sirah, 30% Grenache, 21% Syrah, this wine is beautifully complex and elegant. Rich and smoky, bright and fruity, the wine highlights each grape held within.

“Machete, like Abstract, is born out of the wine Dave has been enjoying in the Pyrénées-Orientales of the south of France. This blend is similar to Abstract, however, there is more influence on the Petite Sirah portion giving this wine the “big brother” status. Machete is a limited production coming from some of our favorite vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino including Dark Horse, Durell, Eagle Point, Fulton, Hudson, Las Madres, and Stones Throw. Low yields and small berries contribute to the concentration and dark inky color.”

The Prisoner, which is a blend containing mostly Zinfandel (51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Grenache, 1% Malbec), and puts forth the deep, rich, fruit-forward flavors 0ne might expect from a Zinfandel. But beyond this is an intense, and well-balanced wine with bright acidity, and a powerfully lush mouthfeel.

“This vintage [2009] has a deep ruby hue that is nearly opaque. The aromas elevate from the glass starting with black currant, dark blackberry, cherry, and cassis rounded out by subtle hints of seasoned French and American oak. The entry of the wine is massive and leads into a lush middle framed by bright acid and supple tannins. The finish is long, lingering and filled with soft velvety tannins lasting for nearly thirty seconds.”

Finally, D 66, another new release from Orin Swift, this hailing from their new winery in Maury, France, a small village nestled in the Pyrénées-Orientales.  A blend of 80% Grenache, 12% Syrah, and 8% Carignan, D 66 is a deeply concentrated wine with clear structure and incredible balance.

“The wine has a very dark, opaque red color with subtle aromas of toasted oak, ripe blueberry jam and dried rose petal. The entry is mouth coating and lush. Opulent plum and ultra ripe cherry are balanced with asian spices and a bright vein of minerality and acidity that give great structure, weight and balance to the long finish. The tannin chains are long and will lend to ageability for 5 to 10 years.”

If you’re looking for a wine to gift, or just something new and fresh to taste, we can’t recommend these wines from Orin Swift highly enough. Perhaps not priced to be an everyday drinker, these wines certainly won’t break the bank and are affordably priced considering the quality, experience, and dedication that goes into each and every bottle.

Orin Swift Machete – $39.99 750ml

Orin Swift The Prisoner – $35.99 750ml

Orin Swift D 66 – $41.99 750ml