Orin Swift Cellars Blank Stare 2018
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Wilfred
Wong -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Glowing in the glass, the aromatics concentrate with notes of lemongrass, fresh-cut grass and hints of lavender, cream, and jasmine. On the palate, the entry is all acidity but with a serious mid-palate—lively flavors of kiwi, lime, and intriguing minerality. The finish is bright and youthful with a slight Meyer lemon rind closing out the wine.
About the Label
The Inspiration for and execution of a label can happen anywhere. Sometimes all you need is a transatlantic flight, a dozen international fashion magazines, a glass of Chardonnay and time.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: If I could have imagined myself liking a 15.5% alcohol Sauvignon Blanc as I began my wine career, my colleagues would have wanted to have my palate checked. The 2018 Orin Swift Blank Stare is indeed an impressive Sauvignon Blanc. TASTING NOTES: This wine starts with a pretty and enticing aroma of dried leaves and ripe fruit. On the palate, it is long and rewarding. Pair it with smoked oysters in a sauce of fresh goat cheese and savory spices. (Tasted: February 12, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Blank Stare was 30% barrel fermented and aged for three months. The total amount of new oak in the blend if 17%. This vintage is a knock-out, giving up exuberant green guava, gooseberries and white peaches scents with touches of wild thyme, chalk dust and musk perfume. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with citrus and gooseberries flavors with loads of herbal accents and a lively finish.
Other Vintages
2017-
Robert
Parker
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
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.