Orin Swift’s “8 Years in the Desert”
My Experience, Thoughtful Sips.
I tried Orin Swift’s 8 Years in the Desert while in Las Vegas, and for me, this was definitely a bold wine. I picked up more of that raspberry and chocolate character, but what really caught my attention was what happened after the sip. The spice seemed to linger toward the upper palate and even into the throat, giving the wine an intensity that I found more interesting than the aromas initially suggested.
Toward the end, I did find it became a little flatter, although I’m curious whether that was simply this particular bottle. Interestingly, the person I was drinking it with had read quite a few reviews beforehand and was expecting a much bigger “wow” moment. He liked the wine, but wasn’t quite as impressed as he thought he would be. I can understand why—the expectations surrounding this bottle are pretty high—but my experience leaned more toward its boldness, lingering spice, and that raspberry-chocolate character.
And the name 8 Years in the Desert isn’t just clever branding. Winemaker Dave Phinney sold The Prisoner in 2008 and, as part of the deal, agreed to an eight-year non-compete that prevented him from making Zinfandel. 8 Years in the Desert marked his eventual return to working with the grape—making the name a pretty literal reference to those years away.
Tasting Notes
82%
Verdict Deep garnet in color, with aromas of dark berries, leather, and a hint of mocha. On the palate, I picked up raspberry and chocolate, complemented by smooth, velvety tannins. A noticeable spice lingered on my upper palate and into the throat, giving the wine a bolder finish than I expected.
