Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Red 2021 – 750ml Johnson Brothers

94pts Decanter

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.

92pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

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

90pts Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

The 2021 Orin Swift Eight Years in the Desert is a wine of power, extract, and complete palate satisfaction. This wine explodes on the palate with flavors, active berries, and shading of oak. Serve this with a grilled ribeye top with Roquefort blue cheese. (Tasted: October 20, 2022, San Francisco, CA)

Winemaker Notes

Evolving aromatics present themselves first with black and white pepper, then a ripe fruit core of brambly raspberry and sweet persimmon, finishing with savory notes of allspice, clove and fig leaf. Boisterous yet elegant on entry, the wine shows its plush layers with distinctive strawberry preserves, blackberry and raspberry pie topped with fresh crème. Round, ripe tannins close the palate menacingly with well-integrated acidity and enduring energy.

Bland : Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.

Winery Notes

Orin Swift Cellars, led by winemaker Dave Phinney, is a brand known as much for its creative and evocative expression of art on the front of the bottle as it is the bold, yet finessed styling within the bottle. Based out of Saint Helena, within the prized Napa Valley, Orin Swift features a portfolio of wines that appeal to a variety of senses. It all begins in the vineyard. Sourcing for the Orin Swift family takes Dave across the state of California, with special interest in the Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Santa Barbara area. He sets his sights on small lots within the most coveted vineyards while ensuring that only fruit of the highest quality makes it into the final blend. Every wine in the portfolio, from the vineyard source to the distinct artwork adorning the label, offers a unique point of view while creating a heart-skipping impression.

“There’s a soul to this business.. that soul isn’t just from the people who make wine, it’s from everyone who loves wines that make them feel something.”—Dave Phinney