Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Orin Swift
Label Name:
 
Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage:
 
2018
Country:
 
United States
Region:
 
Napa Valley
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
16.1%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
96 points — Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Feb 2021). Other professional/retail scores vary by vintage

Tasting Note
Deep black-fruit core of cassis, blackberry and plum with dark chocolate, cedar, violet and spice notes. Full-bodied, layered palate shows baking chocolate, caramel and dusty, grainy tannins with a long savory finish.

Food Pairing
Grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, roasted lamb, aged cheddar; Asian pairings: Korean BBQ (bulgogi/galbi), Sichuan beef stir-fry, Peking duck, char siu pork.

Production Method
Fermented and aged 15 months in French oak (≈50% new). Typically blended from Napa lots (Cabernet Sauvignon with small Cabernet Franc and Merlot) and bottled with minimal fining/filtering.

Vineyard Info
Produced by Orin Swift Cellars, founded by Dave Phinney. Mercury Head is the winery’s Napa Valley Cabernet offering, crafted for power, concentration and age-worthiness since the brand’s expansion into Napa.