Orin Swift Cellars Machete 2019
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Suckling
James
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
A black inky core with a luminous neon purple rim, the 2019 Machete opens with aromas of dark plum, violet, crushed gravel, black pepper and a touch of clove. Flooding the palate with notes of blueberry, chocolate covered espresso bean and a reduction of blackberry. A marbled leather texture accompanies the prolonged tannic finish with energetic acidity.
About the Label
This rich and expressive Red Wine features 12 different labels in the series. The challenge was developing a label that would match the boldness and complexity of the wine in the bottle.
*Receive one of twelve possible labels.
*Specific labels cannot be requested.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The 2019 Machete Proprietary Red is a Petite Sirah-based blend, with additions of Syrah, Grenache, Zinfandel and Viognier. Sourced from Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino, it offers layers of bold blueberry fruit on both the nose and the full-bodied palate. Rich and concentrated, yet supple and long on the finish, with soft, dusty tannins and hints of cocoa, it's a solid effort that manages to nicely conceal its stated 16.1% alcohol.
Rating: 92+
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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!