Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon Palermo 2020, Napa Valley, California

The spirit of Palermo resides in an allegorical catacomb that stands to honor the past, cloaked in deference to the vine, and strives to artfully frame what the harvest yields every year. Orin Swift has carefully assembled a diverse network of vineyards to work with. Palermo is a result incarnate from the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon program, which includes Mercury Head and Papillon. The wine represents years of experimentation with different lots, varying grape maturity levels, complex French cooperage programs, and some proprietary intuition. 2020 vintage – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ages fo 14 months in French oak, 30% new. The wine sits in the glass with a dark mauve and crimson red rim. Classic and traditional Left Bank Bordeaux-style nose of ripe cassis, blackberry and assorted blue fruits with a touch of chapparal. The entry is robust with notes of blackberry pie, black cherry, and impressive weight. Soft tannins and a bright finish round out the wine with a lingering touch of orange peel.