2020 Orin Swift 'Abstract' Red California
This bold and jammy blend opens with a gravity that pulls you right in. Aromatics of blueberry, black fig, macerated strawberry and a hint of must lead into an explosive, full-bodied palate with ripe black fruit, warm plum and blueberry compote. The velvety texture and long finish make this one to savor.
It's long been official – Dave Phinney of Orin Swift is a phenomenon. Whether it's the throngs of people we see jammed in his Saint Helena tasting room all summer long, or the constant stream of great press about his projects – not just in Napa, but around the world – this guy is on a serious roll. The fire that he sparked with The Prisoner shows no sign of abating. Phinney's genius was simply to perfect and popularize something that already had deep roots in California wine: the "mixed blacks" wine of yore—sweet-fruited, dark as night, served in a whiskey tumbler. His wines are unapologetically ripe, hedonistic, and just plain delicious. Simple as that.