Orin Swift
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 Machete 2018
A gothic mauve with a vivid neon rim, the wine appears almost black in the glass. Notes of wet stone, black plum and crushed gravel reverberate from within. Bold upfront, the palate is all-enveloping with mixed berry crepe, black licorice and a touch of char. Layered and omnipotent in weight, the wine finishes with ripe Petite Sirah tannins, providing a pleasant closing texture.
Varietal: Petite Syrah, Syrah and Grenache
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Orin Swift Mercury Head 2021
An almost-black, opaque garnet core sits 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.
BLEND: Cabernet Sauvignon
MATURATION: Aged 13 months in French Oak, 58% New
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Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert 2020
Bright violet in the glass, the 2020 8 Years in the Desert is the epitome of our style, the reason we are even here in the first place.
Nose: As it’s being poured, the aromatics hit squarely on the nose with a perception of sweetness: pure brambly raspberry juice and blueberry preserves with a hint of white pepper and High Sierra forest floor. Yet, the perceived sweetness on the nose is just that, perceived, and doesn’t carry through to the palate.
Palate: Lush and enveloping with a beam of acidity, notes of blackberry pie, plum and kirsch flourish. Ultra-round tannins and lingering raspberry, the wine finishes in slow-motion.
Varietal: Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah
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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
"Expressive and fragrant, with honeysuckle, candied ginger, tangerine and lemon curd flavors on a full, fleshy frame. A fresh thread of acidity keeps the flavors bright and focused, with accents of matcha green tea, dried white flowers and spice lingering on the finish. Drink now. 3,000 cases made." - 92 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Senior Editor and Napa Bureau Chief at Wine Spectator
Orin Swift Abstract 2021
Nose: 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.
Palate: 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.
Varietal: Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah
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Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert 2021
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.
Blend: Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah
Maturation: Aged for 7 months in French Oak, 30% New
"Overflowing with ripe, dusty red berry fruit, vanilla-tinged, turning to blueberry and revealing dried spices and a sandalwood touch. Full-bodied, silky and deeply fruited at first sip, turning to mixed berry compote, balanced by grippy tannins. This is juicy, and even at this alcohol level, it’s balanced and long." - 94 points, Decanter
"There are almost 50,000 cases of the 2021 Zinfandel Blend 8 Years in the Desert, a mix of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Grenache. Mixed raspberries, blackberries and blueberries appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, ripe and supple, yet with just enough softly dusty tannins, a velvety texture and no suggestion of raisined fruit. With its amiable nature and fresh, lingering finish, it should win lots of fans. Best After 2023" - 92 points, Robert Parker
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Orin Swift Slander 2021
Crisp crimson in the glass.
Nose: 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.
Palate: 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.
Varietals: Pinot Noir
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Orin Swift Mannequin 2021
A blinding white gold and a chartreuse shimmer in the glass, the 2021 Mannequin opens with opulent, beguiling aromatics. Ripe golden apple, concentrated jasmine, citrus notes and a touch of cream and fresh brioche emerge. The entry is bright yet with a bit of weight; similar aromatic notes come through on the palate supplemented by rich honeydew and green apple. Tempered by a prominent vein of acidity, the wine closes at length with a seamless silk-like quality, finishing with pleasing minerality.
BLEND: Chardonnay
MATURATION: Aged in French Oak sur lie for 8 months, 23% New
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Orin Swift China Doll 2022
A slow rush of the 2022 China Doll pours a deep salmon core and a soft touch of neon purple, while bright aromatics of wild strawberry, hibiscus, and cream originate from the glass. Arriving on the palate, freshness and juicy come to mind - white peach, apricot and other ripe stone fruit plus hints of pomegranate and a succinct minerality. Energy keeps flowing through the finish with notes of pink guava and Pink Lady apple, pleasantly closing the wine.
BLEND: Syrah
MATURATION: Fermented and aged in stainless steel
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Orin Swift Trigger Finger 2021
The 2021 Trigger Finger opens with notes of candied strawberry, pomegranate, Mission fig and fig leaf with a touch of red chard, musk and baking spices. The entry is powerful with rich black cherry and a mid-palate of cola, rhubarb and spices. With grace, the wine closes with prominent tannins and a pleasing finish of freshly-steeped black tea.
BLEND: Grenache
MATURATION: Aged for nine months in French and American Oak, 62% new
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Orin Swift Papillon 2021
The dark crimson core and brick rim sets the stage, as aromas of currant, blackberry, blue fruits, anise, lavender and brioche float from the glass. Enveloping and coating becomes mixed berry pie, sarsaparilla, cola and blackcurrant with structured heft through the mid-palate. Chalky tannins a la black tea or baking chocolate round out the wine with a pleasing finish of sweet oak.
BLEND: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot & Petit Verdot
MATURATION: Aged 16 months in French oak, 52% new
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Orin Swift Palermo 2022
A dark garnet core with a brooding cardinal rim, the-2022 Palermo-opens with notes of crunchy cassis, muddled boysenberry, ripe elderberry chapparal and cedar. The palate continues many of the aromatics with traces of cassis, blackberry, savory and thyme. Effuse with ripe dark fruits but also complex savory tones, the wine closes with long and soft tannin chains and hints of licorice, black pepper and star anise.
BLEND: Cabernet Sauvignon
MATURATION: Aged for 11 months in French and American Oak, 34% New
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