OLG
OLG, or Our Lady of Guadalupe, is Dave Phinney's newest endeavouer (yes, that Dave Phinney of Orin Swift fame). But this is Dave Phinney 2.0, making wine for the first time from a California vineyard that he owns and farms, with more delicate wines that clock in at a uncharacteristic 14.8% alcohol. More importantly, the site of these wines is magical, quiclkly becoming the site du jour for some of the valley's most esteemed winemakers. Bordering Domaine de la Cote's Bloom's Field vineyard on the coolest, western edge of the Sta Rita Hills AVA, these wines have a natural depth and power that's truly uncommon.
"Dave’s Painted Scars 2022 is fully loaded—bursting with kirsch, violet pastilles, sweet oak spice, and crushed red rock volcanic minerality. Full-bodied and plush, it shows daring tannins and a long, dark-fruited finish. The blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah comes from old vines planted in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, straddling the border between France and Spain. The label, from Dave Phinney’s Department 66 project in Maury, France, features artwork taken from a page in a 19th-century anatomy book. Mexican tattoo artist Dr Lakra (Jeronimo Lopez Ramirez) used microfibre brushes to apply his distinctive tattoo designs to the man’s skin. Phinney, a long-time admirer and collector of Dr Lakra’s work, selected the image for its arresting detail—you could easily get lost in the owl’s eyes or the woman’s steady gaze on the figure’s right forearm. The same is true of the wine itself: it pulls you in with hypnotic intensity and holds you there with depth, texture, and raw beauty. (Drink between 2025-2033)" -Decanter, 94DE
