Dark red, almost garnet hue with bright red on the rim. Ripe cherry and cedar on the nose with hints of dried rose petal and sweet oak. Lovely entry that leads into a fat and savory mid palate. Ripe fig and black currant dominate the finish with a breadth of soft, well integrated tannins. ...More

Wine Spectator Top 100: 2010 #69! Everyone has heard of owner/winemaker Dave Phinney's "Prisoner" which is blend of several varietals. What people are not familiar with is Orin Swifts other labels like this "Saldo". Dave has access to some of the greatest Zinfandel vineyards in California which sources to make this awesome Zinfandel. Its a rich jammy wine with great complexity and depth. ...More

The wine has a very dark, opaque red color with subtle aromas of toasted oak, ripe blueberry jam and dried rose petal. The entry is mouth coating and lush. Opulent plum and ultra ripe cherry are balanced with asian spices and a bright vein of minerality and acidity that give great structure, weight and balance to the long finish. The tannin chains are long and will lend to ageability for 5 to 10 years. ...More

The 2009 Palermo has a dense red/black hue. It has a dark berry and ripe currant nose with rich oak undertones and aged cigar box. The mouth coating huge entry leads into a soft middle with bright acidity. The long finish is broad with ripe tannins and plenty of structure lingering on the palate for 20-30 seconds. ...More

Lush berry flavors of Zinfandel, the power and concentration of Cabernet Sauvignon, the dark black fruit of Syrah, the intensity and structure of Petite Sirah, the flesh of Charbono, and a hint of Grenache - all combined for a decadent wine with great complexity. ...More

In an effort to bring out the best in the grapes Cavus enlisted Dave Phinney of Orin Swift (The Prisoner, Mercury Head, Papillon, Abstract, etc). He is well known for creating big and full bodied wines. ...More

The winemaker at Beau Vigne is the one and only Dave Phinney who makes the Prisoner, Saldo, Abstract, Papillon and Mercury Head. ...More

Abstract came out of Dave’s love of Grenache and a desire to make a blend using that varietal as the focal point. The wine has an inky concentration rounded out with Petite Sirah and Syrah. The 2010 Abstract is a blend of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Syrah primarily from hillside vineyards. The aromas are laced with crushed black fruits and bing cherry. A mouth coating entry leads nicely into a mid palate with excellent structure and balanced acidity. Ripe cherry and strawberry dominate the finish which is clean and long. ...More

The 2009 Saldo bursts with aromas of ripe strawberry and black fruits with well integrated oak. The entry is mouth coating and leads into a mid palate with structure and good acidity. The finish is bright and long with soft tannins and subtle oak sweetness. Drink now and enjoy over the next five years. ...More

Beautiful notes of just picked warm, ripe blackberry with licorice and cedar box on the nose. The wine is structured and complex, saturated with smoky, dark, ripe brambly black fruit. It is bright and brooding, rich and powerful showcasing the intensity of Petite Sirah, the elegance and complexity of Grenache with the seriousness of cool climate Syrah. ...More

Aromas of dark, brooding fruit with subtle French oak in the background lead into a smooth entry of ripe cherry and fig. The mid-palate is subtle and stretches with loads of bright acidity and candied cassis. Layers of stone fruit and ribena lead into a round, supple, lingering finish of integrated soft tannins that roll on and on. This wine is amazing now and has another 8 to 10 years in it at least! ...More