Description
Eight Years in the Desert is a Zinfandel-led blend from Orin Swift in California. Its name tells a story. For eight years in the early 2010s, Orin Swift could not make any Zinfandel. This wine marks its return to the grape that started it all.
Zinfandel leads the blend, with Petite Sirah and Syrah in support. In 2022, the fruit came from the Stefani, Barrelli and Monte Rosso vineyards. That vintage spent six months in French oak, 32% of it new. It came in at 15.6% ABV.
Orin Swift sums up the style as lively yet elegant, with wild berries and a hint of cacao. The 2022 nose shows ripe blueberry, black plum, wild raspberry, espresso bean and sweet oak. Blackberry jam, reduced strawberry and a touch of rhubarb fill the palate. Bright acidity keeps it all lifted. It closes with round, ripe tannins, fresh pluot and dark chocolate.
Notes change from one vintage to the next. The 2021, for example, brings pepper, bay leaf and black cherry into the mix.
Serve it at 60 to 65°F. If you have time, decant it for 20 to 30 minutes. Then pour it with grilled steak, lamb chops, BBQ ribs or a hearty stew. A piece of dark chocolate after dinner is a great match too.
