Orin Swift 'Mercury Head' 2021

Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon is Orin Swift’s flagship wine and emphasizes their guiding principle: Without quality grapes, great wine is impossible. It comes from the best lots from very select vineyards in Napa Valley and the wine is a testament to those vineyards. The Liberty Dime on each bottle symbolizes Dave’s favorite coin in his collection growing up and his most prized possession. The name and label come from a Mercury dime from Phinney's childhood coin collection, which he considered his most prized possession. A "mercury dime" is a Winged Liberty Head dime, a U.S. coin minted from 1916 to 1945, featuring a portrait of Liberty wearing a winged cap and is a 90% silver coin.

Grape Varietals: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Region: Napa Valley, California

Tasting Note:  An almost-black, opaque garnet core sits in the glass with slow-moving tears falling down the sides. Immediate aromatic notes of ripe cassis, charred ribeye, sandalwood and freshly cut oak pilfer - breathe deeper for more. The first sip is a complex, layered conundrum of blackberry, black plum, fennel, licorice and dark chocolate. More sips peel back the layers to reveal a rich and balanced wine with a deep cassis core. A sweet linger on the finish closes the wine with softly textured chalky tannins.

Food Pairing: Black truffle risotto

Ratings: 

• Wine Advocate 96/100
• Decanter 94/100