Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert Zinfandel

The exact proportions and origins of the 2020 Zinfandel Blend 8 Years in the Desert are deliberately kept fuzzy by the winery, but the wine does include Petite Sirah, Syrah and Barbera in addition to Zin. Aged in roughly half new oak, the nose brings an overlay of vanilla to a core of ripe blackberries. Full-bodied and open-knit, it adds briary, herbal notes on the palate, plus a bit of cracked pepper. Soft, dusty tannins mark the finish, along with hints of mocha and bittersweet chocolate. Drink it over the next several years. Drink date: 2022-2030. Score - 91. (Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com, May 31, 2022)