Machete. The start of my spiral down into Orin Swift wines…the wine I still count as responsible for my descent into Dave Phinney’s genius, and still appreciate Jamie for sharing with me (indirectly) and George (directly) for my first sample. Um, my wallet says “thanks” fellas!

2016 Machete Red Wine, Orin Swift Cellars, St. Helena, California, USA.

This is a shared wine, and that always makes for better grapes. This 2016 bottle of Machete came to me as part of a Milk Run, and I have high hopes for the next such release–now that we’ve hit the fall it must be coming soon, yes? Anyways, let’s talk about the here and now.

This 2016 Machete accompanied oven-broiled, pan-seared steaks (pulled just at the right time), roasted Brussel sprouts, and a baked potato. We thought the wine delicious, a shared experience of blackberry and dark fruits. The Machete is a compelling beverage, beckoning you on to more even if you’re not usually an aficionado of red wine.

And that was the case here. I love the Machete not only for its funky pop culture street cred, but also for its robust blackberry and minerality. It’s not mountain fruit, to be sure, but has hallmarks that you’ll appreciate if you gravitate in any way toward the Napa Mountains.

I’m thankful to have another 3 of these in the racks today. The 2016 Machete is a powerful, inky bomb that you’ll love. I know I do, and this one will stick with me for some time.