ORIN SWIFT, MERCURY HEAD & SIGN OF THE TIMES
CALIFORNIA 2023
Dave Phinney is that approachable, relatable dude who just so happened to fall into the wine business — and who just so happens to have an unerring palate. And who just so happens to make some of the most compelling and lovable wines in the country. While other winemakers chase critical acclaim, Phinney has long followed his palate and intuition, going all the way back to his days in launching an unlikely megahit called The Prisoner. And that’s what makes us and so many other wine lovers follow him. Simply put, there’s nothing he makes that we don’t find ourselves falling for, and hard.
Like the two we’re bringing you today: the exceptional 2023 vintage of his flagship Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon, and the inaugural release of his entry-level red blend Sign of the Times, which tastes like something twice its price tag.
“Without quality grapes, great wine is impossible,” Phinney likes to say — and you can taste the literal fruits of that philosophy in the Mercury Head. Sourced from Napa Valley's finest vineyard blocks, it’s pure Phinney, from the aromatic exuberance (blue fruits, licorice, lavender, stone) to the palate (dense but somehow nimble) to the tannins (chalky, soft) to the reverberant finish. Lots of winemakers can bring the power; Phinney can also bring the precision.
Sign of the Times is not in that camp, nor was it meant to be — but what it was meant to be is something we can all use more of in our lives: a $25 wine that tastes like something closer to $60. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Grenache, it spent 8 months in French oak, and its aromatics are intricate and alluring, with black plum, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and leather all showing themselves early. The tannins here are already well-integrated, and there’s a balancing acidity that you’re stunned to find in a bottle as inexpensive as this. As for the quirky label: it was born from one of Phinney's AI experiments, and, like so much else he touches, manages to feel both familiar and revolutionary at the same time.
The fact that Phinney can craft a wine as big and expressive and richly detailed as Mercury Head ... and then turn around and make a table wine as versatile and delicious as Sign of the Times is nothing short of remarkable, though we feel confident in saying Phinney himself would just shrug and go: Whatever.
That regular guy ethos has informed pretty much everything he’s ever done.
Before he became the industry force we know today, Phinney was just a college kid who fell in love with wine during a semester in Italy. By 1997, he'd landed at Robert Mondavi as a temporary harvest worker, and, more importantly, learned how to make wine. A year later, with just two tons of Zinfandel and boundless ambition, Orin Swift was born — named for his father's middle name and his mother's maiden name.
In other words, there is no Orin Swift.
But Dave Phinney is real, and so is his gift, and we’re so thrilled to be able to bring these two products of his mind and heart to you.
As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, to ensure perfect provenance. So don’t hesitate to secure your bottles or case today. But hurry: Phinney’s wines tend to vanish from here as soon as we get them!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK, TN, or WI. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025.