Orin Swift Advice From John California Merlot 2024 750ml

Advice From John is a California Merlot from Orin Swift, the winery founded by Dave Phinney. E. & J. Gallo bought Orin Swift in 2016, and Phinney stayed on for creative direction. The wine launched in October 2025 as a bid to revive Merlot's reputation.

"John" is slang for the toilet. The name comes from a message on a Texas dive-bar bathroom wall, gathered by Phinney's assistant Samantha Smith in a book of the same name, and her photo is the label art. It's a California blend from several sites rather than a single vineyard.

The winery describes blackberry pie, black plum, sage and lilac, with fennel and licorice on the palate and a long espresso-bean finish with soft tannins.

Against Markham Napa Valley Merlot 2022, Advice From John is a California-wide bottle with a story on the label; for a conversation-starting gift, choose Advice From John.

Pour it with barbecue, a burger, braised short ribs or mushroom pizza. Its soft tannins make it easy to open now.

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