Mercury Head 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Mercury Head is the slang term for the authentic Liberty Dime which serves as the wine's "front label". As a kid Dave Phinney collected these dimes. Years later, after getting one with some change, he was reminded how striking they are. 2009 Mercury Head marks the ninth vintage of what we consider to be our best Cabernet Sauvignon lots. This vintage was all about low yields and highly concentrated fruit. Small berries and smaller clusters got super ripe while retaining bright acidity and mature tannins. Our aim is to have subtle oak nuances that won't dominate the fruit, only accent the aroma. Drink this wine tonight or over the next 10 years. Winemaker’s Notes The aroma is of dark chocolate and toasty caramelized oak. There is also a hint of seasoned cedar and rose petals. A big entry leads into a soft mid‐palate with bright acidity and mouth coating weight. Flavors of ripe black currant and semi‐sweet cherries exit into a long finish with strong well integrated tannins. Blend 95% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Merlot Maturation Aged for 18 months in French Oak, 30% new Alc/Vol 15.5%