The history of Orin Swift Cellars dates back to 1995 when on a lark, David Swift Phinney took a friend up on an offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester “studying”. During that time, he was introduced to wine, how it was made, and got hooked. A few more years of university led to graduation and eventually a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker.
Deciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would eventually have to be for himself, so in 1998 he founded Orin Swift Cellars; Orin is his father’s middle name and Swift is his mother’s maiden name. With two tons of zinfandel and not much else, he spent the next decade making wine for others as well as himself and grew the company to what it is today.
Orin Swift Mannequin 2016
The nose opens with rich aromatics of Meyer lemon, honeydew, butterscotch and honeysuckle, with accents of jasmine, white pepper and fennel pollen. A massive palate consists of ripe white peach and a bold Werther’s Original entry and a layered midpalate of nectarines, pineapple and honey. A touch of green apple and wet stone culminate in a concise crème brulee finish.
Varietal : Chardonnay
Orin Swift Mannequin 2017
The nose opens with rich aromatics of Meyer lemon, honeydew, butterscotch and honeysuckle, with accents of jasmine, white pepper and fennel pollen. A massive palate consists of ripe white peach and a bold Werther’s Original entry and a layered midpalate of nectarines, pineapple and honey. A touch of green apple and wet stone culminate in a concise crème brulee finish.
Orin Swift Abstract 2017
Expansive aromas of ripe red fruits—raspberries, bing cherries and strawberries—and a touch of boysen- and huckleberries open the nose. The aromas continue onto the palate with added layers of charred meat, rhubarb, thyme, surrounding a dark fruit core. Smooth, enveloping and lasting, the wine finishes with a pleasing maraschino cherry note. Aged for 8 months in a combination of new and seasoned French Oak.
Varietal : Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah
Orin Swift Abstract 2018
By definition, an abstract is a summary of something larger—it encompasses the crucial details and is easy to comprehend. Abstract, in its own way, is an abstract of what we do here at Orin Swift. It has our signature drinkability, produced from quality vineyards across California and is accompanied by a piece of art by Dave Phinney. A starting point for most, Abstract is decidedly archetypal of many things to come on a journey with Orin Swift.
Winemaker’s Notes
Aromatics with gravity, the wine pulls you in with notes of blueberry, black fig, bloodied strawberry and hints of musk and rhubarb. Bold on the entry, the palate exudes rich notes of dark plum and ripe framboise with a slightly chalky texture. The wine transitions effortlessly to a finish of black cherry, sweet licorice and some quick drying tannins.
Blend
Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah
Maturation
Aged for 8 months in French and American Oak, 27% new.
For pre-orders, please contact order@maltwineasia.com.
Orin Swift Blank Stare 2017
Every now and then when tasting wine, you come across one that makes you fall into its gravity. One moment you’re having a great time with friends and the next you’re stuck with your nose in the glass—time stands still and you appear to have a blank stare on your face. The gravitational pull makes time stop. In fact, the third iteration of Blank Stare follows in the footsteps of two great vintages for Sauvignon Blanc. Sourced primarily from the Laguna Ranch, MacMurray and Two Rock vineyards, the wine’s main premise is to do just that, make time stand still with glass in hand, just for a few seconds.
Glowing in the glass, the aromatics concentrate with notes of lemongrass, fresh cut grass and hints of lavender, cream and jasmine. On the palate, the entry is all acidity but with a serious mid-palate—lively flavors of kiwi, lime and intriguing minerality. The finish is bright and youthful with a slight Meyer lemon rind closing out the wine.
Orin Swift Blank Stare 2018
Every now and then when tasting wine, you come across one that makes you fall into its gravity. One moment you’re having a great time with friends and the next you’re stuck with your nose in the glass—time stands still and you appear to have a blank stare on your face. The gravitational pull makes time stop. In fact, the third iteration of Blank Stare follows in the footsteps of two great vintages for Sauvignon Blanc. Sourced primarily from the Laguna Ranch, MacMurray and Two Rock vineyards, the wine’s main premise is to do just that, make time stand still with glass in hand, just for a few seconds.
Glowing in the glass, the aromatics concentrate with notes of lemongrass, fresh cut grass and hints of lavender, cream and jasmine. On the palate, the entry is all acidity but with a serious mid-palate—lively flavors of kiwi, lime and intriguing minerality. The finish is bright and youthful with a slight Meyer lemon rind closing out the wine.
Orin Swift Mannequin 2018
A lurid straw gold, the aromatics abound with bright lemon, butterscotch, honeysuckle and jasmine, with hints of Granny Smith apple, fresh butter and lime zest. Rich and layered upon entry, the palate espouses honeydew, yellow peach, vanilla with a lush, weighty viscosity. A vein of acidity is present through the finish with a pleasing close of minerality and lemon pith.
Varietal: Chardonnay
Orin Swift Abstract 2019
Immediate aromatics escape the glass: blueberry, Mirabelle plum, ripe raspberry, Bing cherry and enchanting musk. On entry, the wine is seamless and enveloping with notes of Black plum, sweet cassis and blueberry compote on the mid-palate. Textured and long on the finish, the wine closes with a hint of dried lavender and dark chocolate.
Varietal: Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah
Orin Swift Blank Stare 2019
A glowing pale straw with a striking touch of chartreuse sits in the glass. Aromatically, the wine pops with lime zest, gooseberries, ripe passionfruit, fresh cut grass and lemon bars. On the entry, the acidity acts like a belt, constraining the voluptuousness; similar taste profiles to the nose plus crispy green apples and the faintest hint of fresh sage abound. The finish is reminiscent of ripe kiwi and limoncello, teetering on a beam of lingering acidity.
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Orin Swift Machete 2016
We also weren’t going to restrict ourselves by appellation constraints and focused on making the best possible Petite Sirah-based blend from California. We used quality individual wine lots to create a seaMLess blend with both finesse and power, ultimately, creating a wine that embodies the spirit and energy of Orin Swift.
Violet ink in the glass, a nose of black plums, cassis, and cacao engage. The robust entry consists of a progressing palate of blackberry and boysenberry compote, a reduction of dark plum and ripe figs, and pure Amarena cherry. Flashes of vanilla and traces of minerality evolve into chalky tannins and a smooth lingering finish.
Varietal : Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache
Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert 2018
Working with Zinfandel requires use of the Goldilocks principle— pick it too early and you end up with a stemmy wine; pick it too late and you risk a stuck fermentation; pick it just right... well, what do you think? Zinfandel tends to have more acidity compared to other grapes at the same sugar levels, therefore making it necessary to let them ripen more than usual. As a result, alcohols are rarely seen below 15%—some of ours much higher. Sourced from vineyards of pedigree, such as Monte Rosso, Bismark, Korte and Frei Ranch, the wine exudes the ethos of 8 Years in the Desert: a heart and body of Zinfandel with nuance and complexity from Syrah, Petite Sirah and Grenache.
Blend: Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache
Maturation: Aged for 8 months in French and American Oak, 37% New
Winemaker's Notes
An opaque core with a red amethyst rim, the wine opens with ripe raspberry and blackberry, dark plum preserves and hints of black pepper and clove. An entry of heft, the palate is packed with blueberry and sweet black cherry along with touch thyme, savory and tarragon. Long on the finish, the ripe tannins, a dash of ash, and notes of black tea round out the wine.
Orin Swift Slander 2017
Sitting in the glass as lucid ruby in color, bursting aromas of traditional, elegant Pinot Noir are presented: from classic strawberry, cherries and slight savory tones of lavender, thyme and sage to exotic Asian spice, hints of wet earth, chalk and smoky oak. Upon entry there is an overwhelming envelopment of crème de caramel and the same red fruit flavors present on the nose. The wine transitions with subtle soft tannins, showing the sophisticated integration of balanced oak that finishes with a creamy mouthfeel. Overall, the wine’s surprising complexity characterizes this vintage of Slander with classic notes of Pinot Noir on the nose and New World boldness on the palate.