Wow! This one was a sensation. It’s somehow both typical Orin Swift and yet an accurate representation of top-quality Pinot Noir.
I think Canadian wine writer Michael Godel, who rates this outstanding, puts it nicely:
The pinot noir whimsy in Orin Swift’s varietal line is sourced primarily from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA on the Central Coast. Fruit also sidles in from across the state, including from vineyards on the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley; Annapolis Ridge and Del Rio. The preference and penchant is to punchdowns over pump-overs and while hands-off is the manifesto, eight months in French Oak (51 per cent new) and a healthy 15.4 abv is the end result. There is nothing mild mannered or held back about this ebullient emollient of a pinot noir. Soft and creamy, caramelized and so full of fruit the cup it doth runneth over. A black cherry bomb, swift, seductive and sweet for those who like a full dose of richness in their glass.
An "ebullient emollient”…wow!
As does its British importer:
Sourced from some of the best sites in California, Sourced, Rancho Real, Annapolis, Del Rio, Laguna to name a few, the 2022 Slander is an example of great winemaking and the sum being greater than its parts. Bright and enveloping on the entry, notes of fresh strawberry, watermelon, thyme and a hint of funk come through. Spicy on the finish, the wine closes with a flash of blue fruits and lift.
Plus, it’s THE top-rated Orin Swift ever on CellarTracker, at 96 points!
