2019 Orin Swift Papillon Bordeaux Blend, Napa Valley

A blend of all five Bordeaux varieties, the 2019 Papillon Red Wine is a full-bodied, open-knit effort marked by pronounced notes of cedar, mocha and black cherries. Soft across the mid-palate, it turns crisper on the juicy, mouthwatering finish, but it manages to nicely conceal its considerable alcohol content (labeled at 16.1%).

92 points Joe Czerwinski robertparker.com Jun 2022 Drink 2022-2030

Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cab Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 2%Malbec

Maturation: Aged 15 months in French oak, 43% new

Powerful aromatics escape the glass with rich notes of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, peppercorn and a touch of chaparral supported by a frame of sweet oak. Intensely layered and decadent on entry, the wine exudes characteristics of black plum, boysenberry, kirsch and dark chocolate with a silky soft yet weighty texture. A prolonged finish of Provençal lavender, fig leaf and ripe currants close out the wine.