Brand new release from Orin Swift! Palermo is a fantastic buy in Napa Cabernet under $40. A stunning, true-to-form Phinney wine: rich, dense, concentrated, fruit-forward and velvety. Each year, they purchase more Cabernet grapes than they need for Mercury Head and Papillon so they can have a virtual palette of vineyards and corresponding "spice rack" elements, if you will, to choose from to make the perfect blends. When their selection runneth-over and some of the sums of the parts behave more positively on their own, they deserve to be bottled separately and that is how a new wine was born, Palermo. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc blend selected from Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Spring Mountain vineyards.
Chris Harvey
2014 showing really well right now. Astringent up front with dark currant. Nice restraint on the palate. Not overly-oaked
2014 showing really well right now. Astringent up front with dark currant. Nice restraint on the palate. Not overly-oaked
9.1Isaac Pirolo
Palermo from Orin Swift borrows its label, featuring a mummified Capuchin priest, from one of a series of images taken by National Geographic photographer Vincent J. Musi of 16th century Capuchin Catacombs. Four long limestone corridors underneath the Capuchin Church in Palermo, Sicily hold about 8000 mummies. After looking over the rest of Musi’s series, I’m surprised Dave Phinney didn’t create an entire line of wines using the images from this collection. Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Malbec and Merlot, and all from Napa Valley. Packed with extracted dark fruit, cassis, vanilla, cedar, and chocolate, the Palermo eschews nuance in the name of hedonism.
Palermo from Orin Swift borrows its label, featuring a mummified Capuchin priest, from one of a series of images taken by National Geographic photographer Vincent J. Musi of 16th century Capuchin Catacombs. Four long limestone corridors underneath the Capuchin Church in Palermo, Sicily hold about 8000 mummies. After looking over the rest of Musi’s series, I’m surprised Dave Phinney didn’t create an entire line of wines using the images from this collection. Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Malbec and Merlot, and all from Napa Valley. Packed with extracted dark fruit, cassis, vanilla, cedar, and chocolate, the Palermo eschews nuance in the name of hedonism.
9.2Ron R
An OK effort which lacks depth and concentration. Good aromatics of maraschino cherries and cedar. Palette is the disappointment. It's watery in comparison to Cru or Lm Martini. It lacks complexity and finishes neutral - neither sweet or tart. This is certainly a "try before you buy" scenario. Not worth the price of entry.
An OK effort which lacks depth and concentration. Good aromatics of maraschino cherries and cedar. Palette is the disappointment. It's watery in comparison to Cru or Lm Martini. It lacks complexity and finishes neutral - neither sweet or tart. This is certainly a "try before you buy" scenario. Not worth the price of entry.
8.7Mary Reagan
Had the 2014. Really nice wine. Great fruit and oak. Not as complex as I would have hoped for at this price point.
Had the 2014. Really nice wine. Great fruit and oak. Not as complex as I would have hoped for at this price point.
8.9Justin Rusch
Baby papillon!
Baby papillon!
8.9Edward Nelson
It’s good. Seems to be a bit sugary to me. There are better wines at this price point, but I do not regret trying it.
It’s good. Seems to be a bit sugary to me. There are better wines at this price point, but I do not regret trying it.
8.9Alvaro Bustillos
1/17
1/17
9.0Ryan Vento
Steak & wine night with friends. Drank very nicely tonight - plenty of juicy, dark fruits, baking spices, and dark chocolate shavings.
Steak & wine night with friends. Drank very nicely tonight - plenty of juicy, dark fruits, baking spices, and dark chocolate shavings.
9.3Moin Rastegar,C.S.W
Well it is Orin Swift and it sat 15.5%
Well it is Orin Swift and it sat 15.5%
8.8Garrett Parker
Very smooth and at a great price point
Very smooth and at a great price point
9.1WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.