Description
Orin Swift · Papillon · Napa County Red Wine · California · 2022
Papillon — French for “butterfly” — is Orin Swift’s flagship Napa Bordeaux blend, and one of California’s most distinctive cult reds. A wine of deliberate juxtapositions: delicate name, powerful wine; a boisterous personality with an elegant core. The 2022 is sourced primarily from the legendary Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak, with a small portion from Monte Rosso just over the county line — which is why it is labeled Napa County rather than Napa Valley. The blend brings together all five Bordeaux varietals: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% each Malbec and Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot, aged 13 months in French oak, 40% new. The label was photographed by fellow winemaker and friend Greg Gorman.
The 2022 pours an opaque crimson core with a brooding cardinal rim. The nose opens with ripe cassis, blackberry, coastal chaparral, cedar box, and allspice. On the palate, cassis, pluot, blueberry, boysenberry, shaved fennel bulb, and a touch of earth lead to a round, weighty mid-palate. Dusty, coating tannins give way to a charming, supple finish of barbecue tri-tip, Madagascar vanilla, and toffee. Full-bodied, silky-textured, and built for the cellar.
“Offers plenty of ripe cherries and a faint herbal streak on the nose, a full-bodied, silky-textured palate and a welcome bit of cedar on the charming, supple finish.”
— Wine Advocate · 91 Points
- Producer: Orin Swift Cellars, Napa Valley, California
- Vintage: 2022
- Appellation: Napa County, California
- Vineyards: Stagecoach (Atlas Peak) + Monte Rosso
- Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 7% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot
- Aging: 13 months in French oak, 40% new
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Cassis, blackberry, pluot, blueberry, chaparral, cedar, allspice, vanilla, toffee, dusty tannins
- Pairings: Dry-aged ribeye, lamb chops, braised short rib, aged cheddar, charcuterie
WA:91 · Napa County — Stagecoach-driven Bordeaux blend from one of California’s most iconic cult producers. Opulent, structured, and unmistakably Orin Swift.
