We all know that some wines make their case slowly. They need to age, they need to breathe…they swirl about your brain for a bit like the grapes do in your glass. The 2023 Sign of the Times, a California red blend from Orin Swift Cellars, is much more direct.
First, a big thank you to the Orin Swift marketing team for throwing up a hand to share the availability of this bottling. I moved quickly to ensure I’d have a take on this mashup of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Grenache; whenever Dave Phinney is in the lab and banging around with a new interpretation of California goodness, I’m simply “in”. To that end, Sign of the Times is the byproduct of Phinney experimenting with AI, past artwork, and past releases to develop a new perspective. Let’s talk for a few moments about how that worked out.
2023 Sign of the Times, Orin Swift Cellars, St. Helena, Napa Valley, California, USA.
The 2023 vintage pours New World-red in your glass—deep, dark red that’s so rich it’s nearly purple. It’s a wine that suggests depth right from the start. Gravitas…intention…even before the first sip. Notes of blackberry or black current are distinct and inviting. On the palate, the wine presents dark berry fruit and cassis, with just a hint of licorice. Well-integrated tannins make the wine accessible in its youth, as I decided to pull the cork on this bottle (and the others in this shipment) without any thought to aging. If you have more restraint than this oenophile, I suspect the 2023 Sign of the Times has a real ability to evolve with time.
What stands out in the Times is composure. Every element feels deliberate, not forced or accidental. The wine moves cleanly from the first to the finish, leaving you nodding in appreciation. Pair it with food that’s honest and equally direct: grilled meats, roasted vegetables, dishes where heat meets smoke….or simply open the 2023 Sign of the Times on its own, let it breathe, and come back to it as the evening unfolds.
If you were fortune enough to score a bottle before the winery sold out, drink it now for its approachability, or give it time to mature (only rarely can I take that road myself). Either way, the 2023 Sign of the Times will step forward at the ready. Thanks as always for listening to this guy ramble on, and have a great day.
The 2021 Burnt Sacrifice is another representative of the Dave Phinney six pack; it arrived with the Trigger Finger covered in Notes previously. Of late, fewer red blends have come home with me, but you know, dear readers, that I’m game for anything produced by Orin Swift Cellars.
2021 Burnt Sacrifice, Orin Swift Cellars, St. Helena, California, USA.
And this is a pretty good one. It’s not quite the headliner of a Mercury Head or Papillion, or even cult favorites such as the Machete and Palermo that I really love, but a solid entry from my favorite winemaker. More importantly, it rose of the ashes of California’s Glass Fires, which ripped through northern Napa Valley in 2020 but thankfully did not burn out all of the region’s goodness. Phinney originally conceived of Burnt Sacrifice as a Pinot Noir and donated its proceeds to the Napa Valley Community Foundation. The winery has changed the blend of Burnt Sacrifice (ostensibly to “keep it new and inspire curiosity”) year over year, and the 2021 is actually not a Pinot—it’s a blend that features Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Syrah grapes from the Valley Oak, Nunn, Snow’s Lake, Frei, and Barrelli vineyards across California.
When you uncork a Burnt Sacrifice, you’re treated to rich notes of dark berry fruit…perhaps black cherry or blackberry?…and just a bit of oak. I don’t know if that’s because of the leaves that inspired the wine’s creation post-fire, or because the vintage was aged for eight months in French Oak. Or just part of my imagination? Regardless, it has a full mouthfeel and is bold on the palate. I should have aged this for a few months just to take the edge off the finish, but it still goes down pretty easy and made me wistful for another bottle.
The 2021 Burnt Sacrifice is worthy of your time, based on both its excellent notes and dark berry goodness, and the cause it’s supporting. Whether you’re hosting guests or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home, a bottle of Burnt Sacrifice is sure to make the moment and create memories that linger long after the final drop. Experience a bottle of Burnt Sacrifice wine for yourself!
2019 Attila’s Selection Zinfandel, Buena Vista Winery, California, USA; 2019 Machete Red Wine, Orin Swift Wines, California, USA; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, M by Martellotto Paso Robles, California, USA; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Robert Story Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA; 2019 Shirttail Ranches Cabernet Sauvignon, Hess, California, USA; 2018 Bodega de Edgar Migrant Red Blend, Paso Robles, California, USA; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Prima Materia, California, USA. 2020 Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, California, USA; 2019 Grenache McKahn Family Cellars, Amador County, California, USA.
For this guy, usually it’s the wine that makes the memories. The wine that marks time, shines a light on special occasions. And while wine was part of this year’s holiday celebrations, it was more about the unusual circumstances that makes the 2017 Napa Bridge Red Wine stand out from many Napa reds I sampled in ‘22.
We’re in Brockport, having snuck into town among the unfriendly swells of a big rainstorm that accompanied Cara and I all the way up the 95 corridor. We started our trip in the unfriendly “green” radar of RDU and flew with the storm all the way up to Washington and then again to the ROC. Good pilots and friendly attendants balanced out rolling turbulence until we were on the ground and headed for family and Christmas treats. As the temperatures plummeted and precipitation picked up last night, flight cancellations were suddenly national news and made us feel lucky to beat the storm into town.
This morning we woke early and did a walking tour of the neighborhood before the storm really took hold. The pavement was wet and skies ominous, but that was all just prologue to the real weather events of Christmas weekend in western New York. We had just started clearing breakfast dishes when the power flickered for a few hesitant moments and then died. Looking out through the snowflakes to the neighbors’ houses it was obvious the entire ‘hood was impacted.
2017 Red Wine, Napa Bridge Vineyards, Napa Valley, California, USA.
Early afternoon, I bet the power would be restored by 4:05pm (it wasn’t!). We checked the local power company websites (not by WiFi obviously!) and saw the confirmed outages affecting much of the area, and many others. The snowfall didn’t seem to be the chief factor, but rather the howling gusts that bent limb and landscape to their will. At that point, I was pleased Mom’s recent siding and window project was complete, as you could almost see the house bleeding heat to the elements.
Funny moments? Those were the times you checked an appliance for the time, or when you automatically flicked a light switch when entering a room. Those moments when great neighbors called to check in on us, or when we reflected back on the last time (1991ish?) power was lost for an extended period. Less fun was reading that power crews are not able to get up poles and bucket loaders when winds exceeded 35mph, readings I was positive we exceeded several times each minute, or when your brain wondered how long the outrage would really last.
We broke out a puzzle and then cards, throwing hearts and that queen of spades hammer until it was so dark that we were calling out our discards to one another. Then it was Parcheesi by candlelight, wrapped in blankets and warm hats, until finally this guy had to break out the Napa Bridge. Maybe this was to fight through the doldrums of the powerless afternoon, maybe an appeal for warmth, or just because I knew several were ready, willing, and able?
At first taste, I was not overly impressed with this 2017 Red Wine from Napa Bridge Vineyards. Vanilla notes (not always my favorite) were definitely present, and the wine was slightly dry, tannic, and acidic. Red fruit flavors of cherry, and maybe blackberry were notable. Having ordered this online several weeks prior to Christmas I had anticipated a welcome treat that could be shared with the entire family. Check…ish? I would have bet it a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and maybe Cabernet Franc—at least upon initial sampling? Generally I found it “meh” but, since our entertainment options were limited by Mother Nature’s fury, I sunk into this reality and enjoyed it with the great family time.
Once the wine had an opportunity to breathe, it was much more enjoyable. Since a powerless afternoon zapped us of stove or appliances, we opted for local pizza dinner (thanks Steve!) and carried the Bridge into the evening hours. The house was a balmy 51 degrees when power was finally restored around 730pm. Phew! Special thanks to all the dudes braving the swirling snow and icy winds to get back our comforts of home.
Later on, I discovered that Napa Bridge Vineyards combined nearly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot for this fruit-driven 2017 Red Wine. Other reviewers described its plum and cherry notes as well as “cedar and herbal inflections in this mouth-watering, velvety blend.” I would not use “velvety” in my recap but warmed to this vintage over several subsequent tastings over the weekend.
Be assured, I know the day was nothing like Buffalo residents faced, nor those traveling by Southwest Airlines during Christmas 2022. It was inconvenient at times, to be sure, but somehow melded us all together more closely. It’ll be a Christmas that we’ll be talking about well into the future, and that’ll always be the place I keep too the 2017 Red Wine from Napa Bridge Vineyards. Happy holidays, friends!
Red blends recently caught my eye while buying online, and the 2017 Walt’s Old Vines from Judd’s Hill was one of the batch. Now, I’m an easy sell for any ‘old wines’ grapes, and that bias generally serves me well—just as it did here with this Napa Valley bottle.
The winery is family run, and proud of it. Judd’s Hill produces not only well-known California treats like Cab Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, but also less-frequent AVA guests like Viognier and Grenache. They’re also sharing prominently the Judd’s Hill focus on small lot wines, and all that gears one up for a great tasting experience. That’s exactly what I enjoyed here with the 2017 Walt’s Old Vines Red Blend.
2017 Walt’s Old Vines Red Blend, Judd’s Hill, Napa, California, USA.
This 2017 growls softly at you. The wine is replete with berry goodness, an explosion of blueberry and blackberry on your palate. Those are the obvious notes, but others are at play too. The winery’s website indicates “marionberry, huckleberry, and lingonberry” are also conveyed in Walt’s Old Vines, but I simply don’t have the palate or previous taste for any of those more subtle hints. Check it out and let me know? I do get a gentle whiff of pepper, but it is very faint—not as pronounced as a Syrah or Zin. The aftertaste has slightly less rounded notes, a bitterer profile that I’d think more like a cranberry vibe. All in all, it’s really quite enjoyable!
If you’re trying to find the 2017 Walt’s Old Vines Red Blend from Judd’s Hill, you might see results including the Cuttings (The Prisoner Wine Company), Machete (Orin Swift Wines), or even Scout’s Honor (Venge Vineyards) in your search feed. Each of these Napa Valley greats has a profile similar to Walt’s and would serve you and your guests very well. I bought two the first time out and encourage you to better that score when you make your buy. You’re welcome—and thanks for reading.
This black-cherry treat was an upgrade on a recent online order. The 2018 Roma River Rock Vineyard is a red blend, a mix of Syrah (31%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (69%)—two of my favorite grapes and combined to excellent effect here.
2018 Roma River Rock Vineyard Red Blend, K Vintners, House of Smith, Walla Walla, Washington, USA.
Winemaker Charles Smith maintains his vineyards in Walla Walla Valley, Washington, and opened for the first time in 2001. Most of his operation features small lots of single-vineyard Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese. Though he reportedly sold his first wines from the back of a truck, they’ve come a long way over the past two decades. This bottle is named for his mother (Roma-Jean) and those who read Notes know I have long enjoyed bottles that tie in a family connection.
Smith is proud of his “Rhône-centric winery” and, tasing this 2018 Roma, I understand why. It’s full bodied and infuses a little something subtle under the black cherry notes that lead the band here. It’s not quite cedar, but definitely something earthy like perhaps peat moss? Tannins are present but pretty mild…
It’s easy drinking and feels like this wine is punching all the right buttons. Most K Vintners wines are hand picked, fermented with naturally occurring yeasts, and basket-pressed—this one too. I only had one 2018 Roma River Rock Vineyard Red Blend in my order, and I wish I had another. You will too—score one when you can and thank me later.
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