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.