Orin Swift Locations F Red

Orin Swift Locations F Red is a 750ml multi-region French red blend built from Grenache, Syrah, and Bordeaux varieties sourced across three of France's most renowned growing areas. Awarded 92 points by James Suckling, this bottling distills a cross-section of French terroir into a single, richly layered wine.

Quick Facts: Origin: France (Rhône Valley, Roussillon, Bordeaux)  |  Style: Multi-Region Red Blend  |  Varietals: Grenache, Syrah, Bordeaux Varieties  |  Winemaker: Orin Swift Cellars (Dave Phinney)

Production & Heritage

Orin Swift Cellars was founded in 1998 by Dave Phinney, who began the Locations series as an experiment in blending fruit from disparate growing regions within a single country. For the "F" expression, Phinney draws upon a network of growers in the Rhône Valley, Roussillon, and Bordeaux, securing fruit from exceptional old-vine blocks in revered sub-appellations. The wine is fermented in large oak vats and aged in barrel for ten months before bottling, a regimen designed to integrate the diverse fruit sources while preserving regional character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a dominant wave of raspberry, rhubarb, and wild strawberry, then shifts toward savory layers of humid tobacco, lavender, and rose petal. A sweet kiss of licorice and camphor hovers underneath.

Taste: An immediate entry of cranberry and red fruit gives way to deep, full-bodied black currant flavors at mid-palate. The wine is ripe without being overwrought, carrying good freshness and vibrancy alongside a juicy, forward intensity. Dried berry and stone notes add textural complexity as the palate develops.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering licorice, dried herbs, and a savory, minerally undertone. The tannin structure is firm but polished, allowing the fruit to echo cleanly through the close.

How to Drink Locations F

This wine shows its full range of aromatics and textural depth when served at cool room temperature, around 60–65°F, in a large-bowled glass. It drinks well on its own or with food and does not demand decanting, though 20–30 minutes of air opens up the savory secondary notes.

• Sangria: The intense berry and floral character provides a compelling backbone for a French-inflected red sangria with fresh stone fruit.
• Red Wine Reduction: Its concentrated dark fruit and herbal undertones make it a natural choice for pan sauces alongside lamb or duck.
• Mulled Wine: The licorice, camphor, and spice notes harmonize naturally with traditional mulling spices during colder months.

Best For

• Introducing a wine enthusiast to multi-region French blending
• Weeknight dinners that call for something more interesting than a single-varietal pour
• Gifting to fans of bold Southern Rhône or Languedoc-Roussillon reds
• Building a tasting flight alongside Locations E (Spain) and Locations CA (California) to compare terroir expression

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Locations F taste like? Locations F leads with cranberry, raspberry, and black currant fruit, layered with licorice, tobacco, lavender, and dried stone. It is full-bodied and juicy with a savory, lingering finish.

How does Locations F compare to Locations E (Spain)? Both wines are produced by Dave Phinney under the Locations series, but the "F" expression leans toward the floral, herbal, and savory profile associated with French Grenache and Syrah, while the "E" draws on Spanish Tempranillo and Garnacha for a slightly darker, more earth-driven character.

Is Locations F good for sipping neat? Yes — its layered aromatics and balanced acidity make it a satisfying stand-alone glass, particularly at slightly below room temperature where the floral and savory notes are most expressive.

Where is Locations F made? The fruit is sourced from vineyards across three major French regions — the Rhône Valley, Roussillon, and Bordeaux — and blended and finished under the direction of Orin Swift Cellars, founded by Dave Phinney in Napa Valley in 1998.

What foods pair well with Locations F? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's herbal and licorice notes. Duck confit mirrors its savory depth. Hard aged cheeses like Comté or Ossau-Iraty complement its tannic structure. Provençal ratatouille echoes the Southern French fruit character. Charcuterie boards with cured sausage and pâté align well with the tobacco and dried-berry aromatics.

What sizes does Locations F come in? Locations F is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Locations F worth the price? Locations F positions as a mid-range wine that punches above its tier, offering multi-region complexity and old-vine concentration typically associated with more expensive single-appellation French bottles. Its 92-point James Suckling score reinforces that value proposition.

Why Locations F?

What sets this wine apart is the ambition of its sourcing model: rather than representing a single estate or appellation, Locations F synthesizes fruit from Grenache vineyards in Roussillon, Syrah blocks in the Rhône, and Bordeaux-variety plantings into one cohesive blend. Dave Phinney's winemaking background — which includes the critically acclaimed Prisoner and Abstract wines — lends credibility to the blending decisions behind each vintage. The 92-point rating from James Suckling confirms that the execution matches the concept. For drinkers curious about what France tastes like as a whole rather than one corner of it, Locations F is one of the few wines that genuinely attempts to answer that question.