Orin Swift Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA

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 the 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.

A Liberty Dime (last produced in 1945 and also referred to as Mercury Head) is affixed to the front of every bottle, as Phinney was an avid coin collector as a child and this was his favourite coin!