Orin Swift Cellars Abstract (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2018
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Product Details
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Winemaker 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.
About the Label
The label was inspired by a collage displayed in the living room of a designer in Milan. The winemaker spent years collecting the imagery and individually piecing the snips together. Nearly four years later, his original work of art was finally completed.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aged for eight months in oak (27% new; of which, 57% was French oak), the 2018 Proprietary Red Abstract is a blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it offers up bombastic notions of crushed black cherries, warm plums and blueberry compote with hints of dried herbs, spice box and new leather. Full-bodied, the palate explodes with rich, ripe black and blue berry preserves and a velvety texture, finishing long and vibrant.
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Wine Spectator
A bold and jammy blend, plump with personality, offering blackberry, espresso and smoky, peppered beef flavors that build structure toward medium-grained tannins. Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2028.
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James Suckling
A juicy, fruity red with lots of dried berries and walnuts, as well as hints of raisins. Full-bodied and very rich, yet not completely overdone. Leather and graphite. A blend of grenache, petite sirah and syrah. Drink now.
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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
California is a winemaking colossus; by itself it is the fourth largest producer in the world. Red wine accounts for 56% of the total by volume, and red grapes 63% of total acres planted. In addition, a number of California red wines are heralded as being among the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world.
While the state’s incredibly diverse geography, soils and microclimates allow for a wide array of styles, the key factor unifying California red wine is the abundance of sunshine and a long, consistent growing season. This leads to well-developed fruit marked both by impressive ripeness and balancing acidity.
The state’s most famous red wine region, of course, is Napa Valley, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as king. But California boasts a wealth of other impressive appellations. The much larger and climatically varied Sonoma County also produces world class California Cabernet, along with wonderful examples of California Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Fine versions of Cabernet and Zinfandel hail from Paso Robles as well, which is also gaining fame with Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. As for Pinot Noir, terrific examples can be found from AVA’s such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills. Wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties are making wonderful Syrahs, and the Sierra Foothill appellations are proving to be an experimental hotbed, with Italian and Spanish varietals employed to great effect.
This of course is a mere sketch. The subject of California red wine is as deep and broad as an ocean, and absolutely a joy to explore!