Orin Swift Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

About This Wine

Orin Swift Cellars is a cultish wine brand in California that has grown from a small project to a global empire. The company was founded by David Swift Phinney, who discovered his passion for wine during a college trip to Italy. After working a harvest job at Robert Mondavi Winery, he started his own company in 1998. The name "Orin" is derived from his father's middle name, and "Swift" is his mother's maiden name.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The opaque core of the 2023 Mercury Head flashes with a neon crimson rim. Mesmerizing in the glass, the wine opens with notes of blackcurrant, Amarena cherry, California chapparal and an elegant kiss of oak. The palate is effusive with hints of ripe blue fruits, blood orange, dark chocolate and rhubarb—rich and layered as the wine continues to open. Fully integrated tannins are paired with an elegant and nuanced close of blackberry preserves and licorice.

Score

96 points, James Suckling.