The name Orin Swift, incidentally, originated from his father's and mother's names. Orin is his father's middle name and Swift is his mother's maiden name. Today, the winery has grown into a global player in the field of the finest American wines. But it's also known for its unique and powerful labels, doing something different from others, says Dave Phinney. This is certainly achieved with this full-bodied Chardonnay, called Mannequin. For this white wine, they use only Chardonnay bunches from very old vines. These old vines produce few bunches, but they are invaluable. In a climate with plenty of sun but also plenty of coolness, the growing season is long. All bunches are hand-selected and brought to Orin Swift in small crates.
This wine was given the name Mannequin for its elegance, power, and versatility. It also emphasizes the wine's oak aging, as after pressing, this white wine is aged for an impressive eight months in oak barrels. French oak barrels are used, approximately a third of which are new and unused. This gives the golden-yellow juice even more power and the impressions of the oak barrel.
Sit back, relax, because this is a spectacle, and it all starts with the opening of the bottle. This white wine delivers a powerful impression of vanilla, dried apricots, and a touch of sweet oak. In the glass, it erupts golden yellow with a deep yellow sheen. Our senses are more than stimulated, and we bring our noses to the glass. We find ourselves transported to a fairytale world, full and intensely aromatic with hints of vanilla, toast, yellow fruit, jasmine, caramel, stone fruit, and cedar. We could smell it for hours, but we still take a sip. The palate is pampered by a powerful and full structure, with plenty of yellow fruit and spices. Vanilla and cedar, along with a touch of freshly baked toast, grace the palate and the back of the cheeks. Flavors of melon, cirrus, and exotic fruit develop on the palate and in the back of the cheeks. What a full-bodied wine!
