DAMAGED LABEL: Orin Swift Cellars 8 Years in the Desert 2023 (750 ml)

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 An opaque core with a red amethyst rim, the wine opens with ripe raspberry and blackberry, dark plum preserves and hints of black pepper and clove. An entry of heft, the palate is packed with blueberry and sweet black cherry along with touch of fresh herbs—thyme, savory and tarragon. Long on the finish, the ripe tannins, a dash of ash, and notes of black tea round out the wine.

Eight limited edition bottles will be released – one at a time – for the next eight years, every year in October. Each is adorned with a handcrafted label.

Our relationship with Zinfandel goes back 20 years. Orin Swift Cellars was started with two tons of Zinfandel in 1998—perhaps the most important two tons we’ve ever purchased. Quite often, you learn more from your failures than you do from your successes. What we learned from those two tons is that there is neither a silver bullet nor alchemy once the grapes are in the winery. You can only make great wine from great grapes. This truism applies to Zinfandel more than any other varietal. Like golf or fly-fishing, you never truly master the game; you just have good days and bad days. By incorporating Petite Sirah and Syrah into the blend, we’re able to mitigate some of the unpredictability. In the end, our goal every year, is to get closer and closer to the mastery of Zinfandel.