From Sparrow’s red wine by the bottle list, Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert is a bold, brambly California blend with a great backstory, priced at $110 by the bottle.
About Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert
This wine comes from Dave Phinney, the winemaker best known for creating The Prisoner, the blockbuster California red that helped define the modern Napa blend. After Phinney sold The Prisoner brand, his contract included a non-compete that kept him from making Zinfandel-based red blends for eight years. The name 8 Years in the Desert marks his return to the style once that time was up, a celebration of getting back to the wine that made his name. The 2024 bottling draws on fruit from across California, with grapes sourced from small lots in Napa, Sonoma, the Russian River Valley, and the Central Coast, including some old vines over 100 years old. It is built on Zinfandel and rounded out with Syrah and Petite Sirah, the same kind of rich, expressive blend Phinney is famous for.
Tasting Notes
Bold and brambly, this is a full-flavored red with expressions of dark berries and spice, plus subtle hints of fennel and slate. The old-vine fruit gives it real concentration, while the Syrah and Petite Sirah add backbone and a savory edge. It is a generous, crowd-pleasing pour with plenty going on, the kind of wine that fills the glass with aroma and keeps revealing new layers as it opens. If you have enjoyed The Prisoner over the years, this is a chance to taste where that style went next.
What to Pair It With
A wine this bold wants equally bold food. From the Sparrow dinner menu, pour it alongside the American Wagyu steaks, the American Wagyu Steak Sandwich, or the Italian Sausage Fresh Rigatoni. The spice and dark fruit also stand up well to the Lamb Quesa-Birria Tacos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert?
It is a bold California red blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah made by Dave Phinney of Orin Swift, marking his return to Zinfandel blends after an eight-year non-compete that followed his sale of The Prisoner.
How much is Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert at Sparrow in Kirkland?
It is $110 by the bottle on Sparrow’s red wine list in Kirkland on the Eastside.
You will find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Secret Squirrel GSM and the Ambassador Acte Final Syrah. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and enjoy a bottle with dinner.