Orin Swift 2023 "Advice From John" Californian Merlot

Orin Swift's Advice From John Merlot is like sipping on a wine that whispers, "Trust me, I know things," while winking at you from a bathroom stall—bold, unfiltered, and surprisingly profound.

So, if you're seeking enlightenment with a side of irreverence, Advice From John is your go-to guide for the thoughts people dare to share when no one's watching.

Made from California Merlot

Dominating aromatics abound with notes of blackberry pie, black plum, sage and lilac. A flooding sensation on entry drives dark fruits onto the mid-palate with touches of savory, fennel and licorice as complements. Long on the finish, the espresso bean and continued concentration of blackberry throughout fades slowly with gentle and soft tannins.

"Like many things at Orin Swift, what started as a fascination quickly turned into an obsession. Samantha Smith, Dave Phinney’s longtime executive assistant (read: chauffeur, gopher, right-hand ma’am, therapist, etc.), managed amidst her daytime job to multitask away at a book, Advice From John—an anthology of the brilliant, idiotic, and sometimes deep thoughts found at the bottom of a cocktail and then subsequently scribbled and scrawled onto the walls of dive bar bathrooms.

“You Had Me At Hell No,” captured at a dive in Texas, caught Dave’s eye while ruminating ideas on how to bring Merlot back into the mainstream fold—long pilloried for its second of fame in that movie two decades ago. All good things circle back around, so let’s revitalize this delicious, luscious, and fun varietal."