Orin Swift Cellars • Central Coast, California
8 Years in the Desert by Orin Swift Cellars is a powerful, glossy California red blend built around Zinfandel with Petit…8 Years in the Desert by Orin Swift Cellars is a powerful, glossy California red blend built around Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Syrah, sourced from top sites and aged briefly in French (and sometimes American) oak to preserve plush frui…Learn More »
$50
/750ml
2023 Retail Average
90
/100
2023 Pro Rating
Ripe mixed berries, dark plum and blueberry jam charge out of the glass in Orin Swift Cellars 8 Years In the Desert 2023, laced with peppery spice, smoky meat tones and a cool, stony edge. The palate is medium to full in body yet surprisingly taut, with vivid acidity cutting through the dense fruit and broad tannins, giving this usually hedonistic wine a more chiseled, upright feel in this cooler, slow-ripening vintage.
Smoky barbecued pork ribs; Blackened Cajun chicken; Charred portobello mushrooms with blue cheese
8 Years in the Desert by Orin Swift Cellars is a powerful, glossy California red blend built around Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Syrah, sourced from top sites and aged briefly in French (and sometimes American) oak to preserve plush fruit. Conceived by winemaker Dave Phinney after an eight‑year contractual exile from making Zinfandel, it’s known for its high alcohol, saturated color, hedonistic dark‑berry richness and spice, and its collectible, art‑driven labels that change with each release.