Orin Swift Cellars "Papillon" Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
(Napa Valley, California) - [DM 94] [TWI 94] [WA 92]

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:
A tale of juxtapositions, Papillon opens the door to any wine drinker—seasoned or raw—of the possibilities of a five-varietal Bordeaux-blend. A weathered pair of farm hands and the image of a fragile butterfly extend to the wine itself—delicate yet brawny, nuance but bold. Difficult to find in the Napa Valley, we source and ferment the different varietals to our house style: ripe, lush, accessible and with very soft tannins. A mélange of fruit from across the Valley, from Atlas Peak to the gravelly-rich soils of St. Helena and Rutherford, we were able to produce a true Bordeaux-blend but perhaps requires a rethinking of the phrase to simply, Orin Swift’s Papillon.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2021 Papillon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little coaxing, it offers notes of plum preserves, warm cassis, and baked black cherries followed by suggestions of black pepper, tree bark, and menthol. The full-bodied palate is packed with black fruit preserves, with a velvety texture and a refreshing lift on the finish. Drink 2024-2042" - LPB (Feb 2024)

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A proprietary red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot aged 13 months in 44% new French oak. This is a powerful wine. Very robust tannins with immaculate grip and a host of palate arresting tannins that do resolve and give way to red and blackberry fruit notes. Serve it at cellar temperature in large Bordeaux stems after an hour's worth of decanting, and it will reveal more dark berry fruits and spices with better integration of its toasted cedarwood notes, framed by plenty of ripe acidity and these long beams of cedar tannins. Drink 2024-2030" - Jonathan Cristaldi (Dec 2023)

92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"A blend of five Bordeaux varieties, the 2021 Papillon Red Wine is marked by scents of mint, crushed stone, cassis and black cherries. It's full-bodied and expansive, framed by ripe, silky tannins, then finishes long and mouthwatering. With more than 35,000 cases produced and a street price as much as $20 below the suggested retail, it's a wine that should win the Orin Swift brand many fans." - Joe Czerwinski (Jul 2024)

"Despite having sold the Orin Swift brand to Gallo in 2016, founder and winemaker Dave Phinney remains deeply involved, pointing out that Gallo's distribution clout has let him focus more on the vineyards and winemaking. "The easiest way to build complexity is through geographic diversity," Phinney said as we dug into the wines in February. "It's Important that all the wines have their own personality," he added. That said, Phinney's stylistic imprint is on all these wines, which exude big, ripe fruit. If it is tart, lean wines you favor, you have been warned." – JC (May 2023)