Orin Swift Machete 2018 750ml

A paradox can catch you off guard. A powerful punch and a delicate touch – this Petite Sirah-based blend manages to be both. And the labels? Iconic, but never the same. With fruit sourced from all over the state, Machete is a culmination of bird-dogging some of the best Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Syrah vineyards in California. Double-blind tasted to assure the highest quality fruit, making the cut isn’t easy. Tasting Notes: Pure inky garnet in the glass, the aromatics of plum compote, wild blackberries, crushed gravel, peanut brittle, and Tahitian vanilla emanate. Massive on the entry, the mid-palate is diverse with flavors of dark plums, black pepper, Amarena cherries, slow-roasted Moroccan lamb and a marbled leather texture. Rich, enveloping, and vivacious, the wine finishes with perpetuating energy and length—not to mention the satisfying tannins that rouse a desire for more.

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple coloured, the 2018 Proprietary Red Machete needs some swirling to reveal a core of beautiful crushed black plums, boysenberries and black cherry compote plus hints of cracked black pepper, garrigue and camphor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with muscular, crunchy black fruits and plush tannins, finishing long with lovely freshness.