Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert 2022
Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert 2022
- 2022
- 750ml
- Red
- 16.1%
- Zinfandel
- Zinfandel,
- Petite Sirah,
- Syrah
- Orin Swift
- California
- United States
- Vintage: 2022
- Size: 750ml
- Type: Red
- Alcohol: 16.1%
- Varietal: Zinfandel
- Grapes: Zinfandel
Petite Sirah
Syrah - Winery: Orin Swift
- Region: California
- Country: United States
- Vintage: 2022
- Size: 750ml
- Type: Red
- Alcohol: 16.1%
- Varietal: Zinfandel
- Grapes: Zinfandel
Petite Sirah
Syrah - Winery: Orin Swift
- Region: California
- Country: United States
One of America’s quirkiest small wineries, Orin Swift Cellars was founded by talented winemaker David Swift Phinney in 1998. He first fell in love with winemaking while on a trip to Florence, and later he worked for the legendary Robert Mondavi winery before striking out on his own. His winery is named after his father's middle name, Orin, and his mother’s maiden name, Swift.
This unusual bottle is typical of David’s maverick style. Designed as an homage to California, it’s a Zinfandel-based blend with some Syrah and Petite Sirah added for extra complexity. After vinification the young wine is kept in French oak barrels for 8 months before it’s deemed ready for bottling.
Seductive sweet fruit immediately bursts out of the glass, including luscious cassis, black cherry, and ripe dark plum. There are deeper undertones of forest floor, cedarwood, and gentle spice from the oak. On the palate there’s a robust full body, firm tannins, and a luscious core of dark fruit which lingers on the tongue. Pair with hearty red meat dishes or cellar for a few more years to round out the powerful tannins.
Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert 2022









As someone who has been ordering wine online regularly (22 orders and dozens of bottles since 2022), I have long appreciated 8Wines for offering access to interesting international labels and boutique styles that aren’t always readily available locally. However, a platform's true character isn't revealed when everything goes right; it's tested when a high-value bottle arrives compromised, and that is where 8Wines falls remarkably short. Over the last few years, I’ve spent well over €3,500 with 8Wines. When you spend consistently on a platform, you expect a baseline of mutual trust, especially when purchasing premium bottles where structural integrity is everything. Unfortunately, encountering damaged or flawed bottles on two separate occasions has brought to light a rigid, customer-unfriendly claims policy. A bottle of Susana Balbo Signature Malbec arrived completely cooked and oxidized. Despite detailing the structural defects, the customer service team deflected responsibility, demanded unreasonable layers of proof, and ultimately offered reward points rather than issuing a proper refund or replacement. One year later, another bottle, this time a high-end wine - the Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon arrived leaking in the box with visible stain traces under the capsule. Upon opening, the cork failure was undeniable, and the wine showed the distinct, flat overcooked notes of premature oxidation rather than its intended opulent fruit profile. Instead of acknowledging that cork failure and transport leakage, the 8Wines’ support team engaged in gaslighting. They attempted to lecture about the "jammy profile of the Wagner family." They argued that a leaking, stained bottle with a dry cork and premature oxidation was normal. Rather than standing behind the quality of their high-end stock, 8Wines offered a standard deflection playbook: no blame accepted, no refund given, and a small allocation of reward points thrown in as an appeasement. For a loyal customer who has spent thousands on the platform, being compensated with virtual points for a cooked, expensive wine is a disappointing resolution. Final Verdict 8Wines has an attractive catalogue and smooth shipping logistics when bottles survive the trip intact. But if you gamble on buying expensive, premium bottles here, be aware that you carry all the financial risk. If a cork fails or a bottle cooks in transit, don't expect a refund, expect a corporate email trying to convince you that flawed wine is just part of the "winemaker's style," followed by a handful of reward points to close the ticket, that if you insist upon, otherwise you will be left empty handed. Moving forward, I will reserve my purchases for everyday, lower-risk bottles, and buy any high-end, premium investments strictly from physical storefronts where visual inspection and immediate returns are actually honored.