Orin Swift 8 Years in Desert 2016
- wa94+
- ws90
| Category | Red Wine |
| Varietals | |
| Region | California, Napa Valley, St Helena |
| Brand | Orin Swift |
| Alcohol/vol | 15.7% |
Winemaker’s Notes:
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 flavors 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.
AVAs: 87% Dry Creek Valley, 13% Red Hills Lake County
Blend: 56% Zinfandel, 34% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah
Wine Advocate
- wa94+
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Zinfandel Blend Eight Years (a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah) comes bounding out of the glass with notes of raspberry pie, blackberry preserves and fruitcake with touches of hoisin and Chinese five spice plus and waft of underbrush. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it packs in the black fruit preserves, framed by chewy tannins and finishing on a savory note. 2,600 cases were made.
Wine Spectator
- ws90
A bruiser of a blend, combining gutsy blackberry and licorice flavors, with accents of sandalwood, smoky anise and cracked pepper. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah. Drink now through 2023. 2,600 cases made.