Orin Swift Machete 2019

Huge house favourite. Made by the genius David Phinney who created Orin Swift after he sold Prisoner on. He will be one of the great winemakers of the future and is already making wine at an unimaginably high level.
If you want a wine for summer barbecue evenings that impresses guests and keeps the wine in the center - then Machete is my best bet.

Here's a little description from Otto Suenson, who imports the wine in DK:
The knife-armed label illustrates that the wine is made from the powerful Petite Sirah. Colossally big wine, and not without elegance.
"New cowboy boots, barbecue marinated beef and dark chocolate" - yes, when winemaker Dave Phinney describes what his Machete cuvée tastes like, there is no doubt as to where in the world we are. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The grape variety that Orin Swift Cellars has put into play here is called Petite Sirah. It is relatively rare, but is on the rise in California, as ambitious and innovative producers have discovered how fantastic it expresses itself here in the Golden State.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the grape variety's first name is 'Petite', there is nothing small and innocent about this powerhouse. The grape variety has a muscular personality, where both structure, flavor and expression are palpable.

The wine is deep and dark in the glass with a beautiful purple tinge at the rim. In the taste, it is dark fruit all the way, with spicy and sweet elements that keep delivering new flavor associations. And thanks to Dave Phinney's solid craftsmanship, he has succeeded in creating a unique structure in the otherwise ripe and powerful wine. Tannin and acid stand like an iron skeleton that holds up the powerful wine, and elevates the wine to a completely unique taste experience.

Enjoy this wine with all kinds of muscular cooking. Whether it's steaks with a strong sauce, simmering dishes from the roasting pan or marinated steaks from the grill. The machete here can cut through everything.

The wine has been aged for 14 months in French oak, of which 34% is new. It is created from a blend of grapes from 9 different vineyards in California. The blending task for this wine, Dave Phinney considers one of his favorites.