Orin Swift Cellars Papillon 2022 (750 ml)

A tale of juxtapositions, Papillon opens the door to any wine drinker—seasoned or raw—of the possibilities of a five-varietal Bordeaux-blend. A weathered pair of farm hands and the image of a fragile butterfly extend to the wine itself—delicate yet brawny, nuance but bold. Difficult to find in the Napa Valley, we source and ferment the different varietals to our house style: ripe, lush, accessible and with very soft tannins. A mélange of fruit from across the Valley, from Atlas Peak to the gravelly-rich soils of St. Helena and Rutherford, we were able to produce a true Bordeaux-blend but perhaps requires a rethinking of the phrase to simply, Orin Swift’s Papillon.

A Bordeaux-style red wine from the Napa Valley, comprised of all five varietals , is hard to find. We’ve been lucky to source quality fruit from long time growers on both the valley floor and surrounding hillsides; and while finding Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec can be difficult, their contributions to the resulting wine make it worthwhile. A prime example of our house style—accessible, massive, and memorable—the bottle empties quickly (a slight disappointment when discovered) for the bottle weight suggests differently, and searching for another bottle ensues.

A neon indigo pours into the glass and sits with a dark garnet core and a lucid cardinal tint. A boisterous nose escapes the glass with aromatics of ripe boysenberry, kirsch, mixed dark berry pie, California Coastal sagebrush and chaparral. Delectable and plush on the palate, notes of blackberry and sweet black licorice culminate in a finish of dusty tannins and ripe black plum. This Papillon Napa Valley red is perfect to enjoy now or later, so put it in your cellar to age or pour it today!