Orin Swift 'Abstract' Red
Orin Swift 'Abstract' Red is a bold California red wine in a 750mL bottle — a proprietary blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah sourced mainly from hillside vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino, typically around 15.7% ABV. Inspired by the Roussillon wines Dave Phinney tasted in the Pyrénées-Orientales, it is aged 10 months in a combination of new and seasoned French oak (about 30% new) for a huge, unctuously textured, thick-and-juicy pour with sweet, soft tannins. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: ~15.7% (typical)
- Size: 750mL
- Blend: Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah
- Aging: 10 months in French oak, ~30% new
- Region: Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino — California
- Winery: Orin Swift Cellars, St. Helena (Dave Phinney)
Abstract Art You Can Drink
The label is a collage and so is the wine: Grenache for red fruit, Petite Sirah for ink and grip, Syrah for spice, all from hillside sites Phinney picked himself at dawn. It pours opaque ruby-purple and hits like the Roussillon reds that inspired it — creosote, kirsch, cassis, Provençal herbs, licorice — dense but never hot. Robert Parker gave the style 94 points and called it "absurdly delicious." For more, explore red blends, red wine and the Orin Swift collection at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: dark fruit, sage, kirsch, black tea, a hint of California chaparral. Palate: ripe blackberry, mulberry, roasted plum, bitter chocolate — voluptuous and fresh. Finish: long, with sweet, soft tannins.
How to Enjoy
Decant and serve at 60–65°F. Built for grilled or smoked ribeye, venison, braised short ribs — big food for a big wine. Drinks best in its first 5–6 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in Orin Swift Abstract? A proprietary blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino hillside vineyards.
Who makes Abstract? Orin Swift Cellars in St. Helena, founded by Dave Phinney — the winemaker behind The Prisoner.
What does it taste like? Bold and juicy — dark berries, kirsch, spice and chocolate with soft, sweet tannins and a long finish.
Dave Phinney's everyday masterpiece — order Orin Swift Abstract Red online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.