Winemaker Notes

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.

Blending trials for Machete are amongst the favorite for each vintage. A Petite Sirah-based wine, the trial tastings leave everyone with purple teeth and a puckered palate. It can also be the most exhausting. However, after various tastings and blend iterations, the 2020 Machete is true to the style of being approachable for the highly tannic and visceral varietal. Prominent vineyards across the state make up the blend including the Frei Ranch, Barrelli, Snows Lake, Monte Rosso, Dark Horse, Stones Throw, Zaca Mesa and Summerwind vineyards.

Blend: Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache

Winery Notes

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