93pts James Suckling

A smooth, supple Bordeaux-style blend that starts with gorgeous, generous blackberry and dark chocolate aromas, then firms on the palate due to fine-grained tannins. It shows nice concentration, depth and detail stemming from the component parts of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and the three other red Bordeaux grapes. Drink now or hold.

92pts Wine Enthusiast

Blue and black fruits join glittering spices, flowering herbs, and dark chocolate, moving from a lush opening to structural close with a powdery fine mouthfeel and juicy finish. A poised balance of hearty red varieties delivers a mouthful of flavor with plenty of energy and enjoyment.

Winemaker Notes

An enchanting purple core with a lucid mauve rim sits in the glass. The 2023 Papillon opens with traditional Bordeaux aromatics of ripe cassis, licorice, cedar as well as some Santa Rosa plum and black pepper. Flooding yet elegant on the entry, notes of duck confit, star anise, braised fennel and beef bourguignon coalesce through the palate. Ripe tannins with a lengthy close punctuate the finish with a dose of sage oil and ripe blackberry.

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

Aged 16 months in French oak, 52% new.