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
Showing all 12 results
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Promotion, Wine
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.
Varietal: Chardonnay
Size & Packing: 750ML x 12
ABV: 15%
SKU: EJG05-1700750-WH -
Promotion, Wine
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.
SKU: EJG01-1800750-RD -
Promotion, Wine
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.
SKU: EJG15-1700750-WH -
Promotion, Wine
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
Size & Packing: 750ML x 12
ABV: 15.7%
SKU: EJG03-1600750-RD -
Promotion, Wine
Orin Swift Slander 2015
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.
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Size & Packing: 750ML x 12
ABV: 15.5%SKU: EJG04-1500750-RD -
Wine
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
ABV: 15.6%
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.
SKU: EJG07-1800750-RD -
Promotion, 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.
SKU: EJG04-1700750-RD -
Promotion, Wine
Orin Swift Palermo 2015
With low yields, small berries and lots of concentration, the array of fruit we were able to source was high in quality and replete with sensorial complexity. Featuring lots from all over the valley—from Atlas Peak to Coombsville, from Calistoga to the Rutherford Bench— this wine is a quintessential Napa Cab, made in the signature Orin Swift style.
Deep and luring aromas of raspberry and ripe cherry are intermingled with accents of star anise, five spice and freshly steeped black tea. The entry is smooth with a combination of cassis and blackberry with a satiating suppleness. Ultra-round and soft, the wine finishes with reverberating length.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec
Size & Packing: 750ML x 12
ABV: 15.5%SKU: EJG02-1500750-RD -
Promotion, Wine
Orin Swift Palermo 2016
A bold representation of the signature grape varietal of the Napa Valley, Palermo is a portrayal of the patchwork of vineyards across the region. With fruit sourced from the warmer Calistoga and St. Helena AVAs down to the cooler AVAs of Coombsville and Oak Knoll, across to the unique microclimates of Pope Valley and Atlas Peak and finally to the famous soils of Rutherford and Oakville, this truly is the Napa Valley in a bottle. Working in the vineyards to meet our strict quality standards, we were able to produce a wine that is both classically Cabernet, while staying true to our Orin Swift ethos.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
A dark garnet hue sits in the glass with immediate aromas of ripe cassis and blackberry. Hints of cocoa, new oak and fir complement the juicy fruit mélange. A full-bodied entry is succeeded by a mid-palate of dark fruits and a smooth, integrated minerality. The tannins are well developed, allowing the wine to finish with length.
BLEND
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
MATURATION
Aged for 10 months in French Oak, 35% new
SKU: EJG02-1600750-RD -
Promotion, Wine
Orin Swift Papillon 2017
A Bordeaux-style red wine from the Napa Valley, comprised of all five varietals , is hard to find. We’ve been lucky to source quality fruit from long time growers on both the valley floor
and surrounding hillsides; and while finding Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec can be difficult, their contributions to the resulting wine make it worthwhile. A prime example of our
house style—accessible, massive, and memorable—the bottle empties quickly (a slight disappointment when discovered) for the bottle weight suggests differently, and searching for
another bottle ensues.Our good friend and fellow winemaker, Greg Gorman, photographed the label.
Powerful aromatics escape the glass with rich notes of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, peppercorn and a touch of chaparral supported by a frame of sweet oak. Intensely layered and decadent on entry, the wine exudes characteristics of black plum, boysenberry, kirsch and dark chocolate with a silky soft yet weighty texture. A prolonged finish of Provençal lavender, fig leaf and ripe currants close out the wine.
SKU: EJG16-1701500-RD -
Promotion, Wine
Orin Swift Mercury Head 2017
2017 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
When asked about our winemaking philosophy, we keep it simple: treat every lot as if it were destined for Mercury Head. And while there are limitations as to what we can eventually include in the resulting blend, we’ve been surprised before about what makes that cut. In 2016, we incorporated for the first time ever, a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard up in the hills above the Sonoma Valley—and this year, have done similarly. Year after year however, there are a few standouts that have become the wine’s backbone—the Morisoli vineyard in Rutherford, the Milat vineyard in St. Helena and a few of blocks from the Stagecoach vineyard on Atlas Peak. Blind tastings, trial blends and 15 months in barrel, the finished wine is our true representation of the best Cabernet from the Napa Valley.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
A familiar nose of pedigree, the wine opens with aromatics of ripe raspberry, blackcurrant, cigar box and a hint of fresh sandalwood shavings and Herbs de Provence—mysteriously intriguing at first but evolving into a thoroughbred with time and air. Dense and layered on the palate, an immediate note of mixed berry strudel topped with fresh cream, fresh black raspberry and soft tannins akin to baking chocolate transition to a finish of both nuance and concentration. Still young, the wine will continue to evolve gracefully while retaining its luscious quality and classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon nature.
BLEND
Cabernet Sauvignon
MATURATION
Aged for 15 months in French Oak, 51% new
SKU: EJG17-1700750-RD -
Promotion, Wine
Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Gift Set
Dark garnet with a lucid rim, the wine exhibits aromas of briar fruit, ripe blackberry and dark plum with a tinge of minerality and charred meat. Brawny on the entry, it has an equally big mid-palate with complex flavours of ripe brambly fruit, a touch of earth and notes of espresso bean. Still massive through to the finish with soft drying tannins, the unique varietal characteristics of the blend clearly reveal themselves over time.
Varietal: 56% Zinfandel, 34% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah
Size & Packing: 750ML x 8 (1 case of 8 bottles)
ABV: 15.7%* Limited Release.
Please check with MWA Sales Team for availability.
SKU: EJG06-1600750-RD
