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Mercury Head
2017
Orin Swift Cellars, led by winemaker Dave Phinney, is known as much for its creative and evocative expression of art on the label as it is for its bold award winning. Sourcing for the Orin Swift family of wines takes Dave across the state of California, with special interest in the Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Santa Barbara area. He sets his sights on small lots within the most coveted vineyards while ensuring that only fruit of the highest quality makes it into the final blend. Every wine in...
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"A while back, I got a handful of change and I found a Liberty Dime – its nickname is Mercury Head – and it reminded me of how much I liked collecting coins when I was a kid. The Mercury Head was always my favorite because it just looks cool. It hasn’t been made since 1945, so when I thought about our flagship wine, the name of my most prized coin was exactly right. Then it seemed like the right way to do the label was to put an actual Mercury Head dime on each bottle. " - Dave Phinney
When asked about our winemaking philosophy, we keep it simple: treat every lot as if it were destined for Mercury Head. And while there are limitations as to what we can eventually include in the resulting blend, we’ve been surprised before about what makes that cut. In 2016, we incorporated for the first time ever, a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard up in the hills above the Sonoma Valley—and this year, have done similarly. Year after year however, there are a few standouts that have become the wine’s backbone—the Morisoli vineyard in Rutherford, the Milat vineyard in St. Helena and a few of blocks from the Stagecoach vineyard on Atlas Peak.Blind tastings, trial blends and 15 months in barrel, the finished wine is our true representation of the best Cabernet from the Napa Valley.
A familiar nose of pedigree, the wine opens with aromatics of ripe raspberry, blackcurrant, cigar box and a hint of fresh sandalwood shavings and Herbs de Provence—mysteriously intriguing at first but evolving into a thoroughbred with time and air. Dense and layered on the palate, an immediate note of mixed berry strudel topped with fresh cream, fresh black raspberry and soft tannins akin to baking chocolate transition to a finish of both nuance and concentration. Still young, the wine will continue to evolve gracefully while retaining its luscious quality and classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon nature
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Mercury Head (aged for 15 months in oak, 51% new) delivers classic notes of warm cassis, plum preserves and mulberries with hints of cigar box, dried bay leaves, pencil lead and truffles. The full-bodied, densely packed, full-throttle palate has a solid structure of firm tannins and oodles for freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and savory. Rating: 93+
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Alluring, featuring blackberry, blueberry and açaí berry aromas and flavors, laced with graphite and violet notes and backed by a hint of lavender. Very expressive, showing lovely range, as well as the stuffing and structure to cellar. Approachable, but a little time is warranted. Best from 2021 through 2030.
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