Orin Swift Cellars "Machete" 2020 Petite Sirah Blend
(California)
Regular price $78.00 Sale price $49.99 Save $28.01
About the Winery:
Orin Swift Cellars was founded by David in 1998: Orin is his father's middle name and Swift is his mother's maiden name. With two tons of zinfandel and not much else, he spent the next decade making wine for others as well as himself and grew the company into a multi-national brand that now includes 300 acres of vineyards in the Southwest of France. This international ambition has led to projects in Spain, Italy, Corsica, Argentina and other locations around the globe. In 2016, Orin Swift (the brand, remaining inventory and the tasting room in St. Helena) was purchased by E. & J. Gallo Winery. Founder Dave Phinney continues to be involved in a consulting role.
Notes from the Winemaker:
The baddest wine of them all, Machete takes no prisoners. It is in your face aromatically, punching your mouth from within. The tannins remind you what it's like to feel, and the ink will put a smile on your face. Our simple goals with machete was to elevate Petite Sirah to the main stage and let it express its own attitude. Robust, dominant and unapologetic, the wine creates its own gravity, pulling all towards it with vintage after vintage resulting in a stellar blend of Petite Sirah, Syah and Grenache.
A dark mauve core with a neon purple rim, the wine stains everything. Opening aromatics on the 2020 Machete are gorgeous immediately: ripe pluot, carne asada, new cowboy boots, lilacs, espresso bean and wet concrete. On the palate, layers upon layers reveal themselves, from a plum galette topped with fior di latte gelato to 85% cacao dark chocolate to barbequed tri-tip and sweet oak. Puckering tannins to finish, the wine closes on a high note with a touch of blood orange zest and lingering acidity.
Orin Swift Cellars was founded by David in 1998: Orin is his father's middle name and Swift is his mother's maiden name. With two tons of zinfandel and not much else, he spent the next decade making wine for others as well as himself and grew the company into a multi-national brand that now includes 300 acres of vineyards in the Southwest of France. This international ambition has led to projects in Spain, Italy, Corsica, Argentina and other locations around the globe. In 2016, Orin Swift (the brand, remaining inventory and the tasting room in St. Helena) was purchased by E. & J. Gallo Winery. Founder Dave Phinney continues to be involved in a consulting role.
Notes from the Winemaker:
The baddest wine of them all, Machete takes no prisoners. It is in your face aromatically, punching your mouth from within. The tannins remind you what it's like to feel, and the ink will put a smile on your face. Our simple goals with machete was to elevate Petite Sirah to the main stage and let it express its own attitude. Robust, dominant and unapologetic, the wine creates its own gravity, pulling all towards it with vintage after vintage resulting in a stellar blend of Petite Sirah, Syah and Grenache.
A dark mauve core with a neon purple rim, the wine stains everything. Opening aromatics on the 2020 Machete are gorgeous immediately: ripe pluot, carne asada, new cowboy boots, lilacs, espresso bean and wet concrete. On the palate, layers upon layers reveal themselves, from a plum galette topped with fior di latte gelato to 85% cacao dark chocolate to barbequed tri-tip and sweet oak. Puckering tannins to finish, the wine closes on a high note with a touch of blood orange zest and lingering acidity.
Blend: Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache
Ratings & Reviews
92+ Points - Wine Advocate (2019):
"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." - JC (May 2022)
"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." - JC (May 2022)