In the middle of the 1990s, Dave Phinney spent a semester abroad in Italy and decided against becoming a lawyer. Ever since, he hasn’t looked back. After working at Robert Mondavi’s harvest and growing experimental Zinfandel plots in Arizona, Phinney began developing his first wine label, The Prisoner, in 1997.
Today, Orin Swift takes some of the best vineyard selections to make visually stunning Napa Valley wines.
Orin Swift ‘Papillon’ 2019 Vintage:
The 2019 Papillon pours a vivid neon crimson, settling into a dark, ruby-rimmed core that radiates crimson hues throughout. The nose is intense and complex, opening with rich blackberry, kirsch, and coastal sagebrush, then unfolding to reveal layers of ripe plum and roasted fig. The entry is bold and opulent, yet the palate gradually unveils an elegant side with flavours of black plum, blackcurrant, toffee, and subtle hints of sweet red vermouth, muddled mint, and orange peel. Polished and harmonious, it finishes with ripe, structured tannins and a delicate drying character that may just win over even the most devoted Bordeaux purists.
Food pairing suggestion: Yakiniku bowl.
Did you know? ‘Papillon’ is a French word for Butterfly. David actually got the idea of naming the wine from his small daughter. They were strolling amogst the vines one day and she pointed at a butterfly, identifiying it in pure French! He knew he wanted to name the wine Papillon, but when it came to creating the label, a completely contrasting image came to David’s mind: a pair of aged man’s hands with a message tattooed across the knuckles. He liked the idea of the rough look alongside the pretty name, and Papillon happened to be a word that could be written in just eight letters using two sets of four knuckles.
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