Orin Swift F1 "Locations" N.V.

Orin Swift F1 “Locations” NV

I wanted to like this wine.   Actually I still want to.

I have heard a ton of good talk about F1, and I have been a cheerleader for Orin Swift forever. I think we’ve got a couple of Papillons in the cabinet, and I know there is a Mercury Head in there.

The label suggests a mysterious ambiguity, in alignment with the tradition of Orin Swift, but at the same time reminds me of those cult bumper stickers, OBX, LAX . . . you know the ones.

Aside from the shape of the bottle, and the obvious French flag, there is no indication of exactly where and when.  With these things in mind, I uncorked the bottle and took my first obligatory inhale before pouring: red fruit, cinnamon, done. Burgundy.   I announced this proudly to my wife, check marked a victory in record time, and poured two glasses.

Fail.

This wine is big, but subdued.  It is from anywhere in France than Burgundy.  Rhone is obvious and confirmed from reviews, Grenache, Carignan, and Bordeaux grapes that no one seems to commit to.  I chose not to decant the wine because I thought it was a Burgundy, maybe a misstep there.

Too subdued.  I never really got it, I never understood F1 Locations.   The dark fruit, the leather, the spice, all those things characteristic of great French wine, were still too quiet.

I’m not approaching this wine with criticism, I am admitting I didn’t understand it.  For my first entry into this blog I realize this is a rather weak debut, but I chose to blog the wine before I drank it.

A few possible conclusions: 

F1 reminded me most of what it feels like when you are having a conversation with someone who you believe has something to tell you, but is not saying it. Allusions and expressions can suggest to you that the real conversation is going on, but it’s not on the surface.

Also, maybe F1 really is a bumper sticker.  Maybe like those that show that OBX on the back of their car. They want me to recognize a place that they feel is worth recognizing, but they don’t want me to understand it, else it wouldn't be theirs to show.

Either way, I think that F1 and I need to continue our conversation.