Article Summary
A price and awards comparison for Orin Swift wines, showing Casedrops beats US retail on all three.
Finding the best prices for Orin Swift wines usually means chasing down three different bottles across three different retailers. Dave Phinney founded Orin Swift Cellars in 1998, naming it for his father’s middle name and his mother’s maiden name, and the label has built a cult following on bold blends and even bolder artwork. The Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon takes its name from Phinney’s childhood coin collection, while Machete and Papillon round out the portfolio with a Rhône-style red blend and a five-grape Bordeaux blend. At Casedrops, members get all three at up to 30% below average US retail. Here’s exactly how the math works out, bottle by bottle.
Best Prices for Orin Swift Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
The 2022 Mercury Head pours an opaque garnet core with a dark cardinal rim and tinges of purple. The nose leads with blue fruit, blackcurrant and licorice, layered with baking spices, lavender and crushed gravel. On the palate, blackberry, dark chocolate and espresso bean carry through to a blueberry-edged, chalky-tannined finish with a savory herb note. Aged 13 months in French oak, 60% new. Pair it with grilled steak or aged hard cheese.
Awards
- James Suckling (2023 vintage) — 96 points
- James Suckling (2021 vintage) — 95 points
- The Wine Independent (2021 vintage) — 95 points
- Jeb Dunnuck (2021 vintage) — 94 points
Price Comparison
Casedrops: $122.50
Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon at 30% less than average US retail
You can save up to $52.50. Grab it on the on the Casedrops app today.
Best Prices for Orin Swift Machete
Tasting Notes
Machete blends Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache, aged around 10 months in French oak. The 2022 vintage shows an inky garnet core with a neon violet rim, opening with bright black plum, slate, cacao, wild sage and crushed gravel. The palate is brawny, with blackberry pie and ripe blue fruit tempered by orange peel and Amarena cherry, closing on chewy tannins and sweet oak. Best suited to barbecue, grilled lamb or anything with a char.
Awards
- Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2021 vintage) — 91 points
- James Suckling (2019 vintage) — 92 points
Price Comparison
Casedrops: $41.30
Machete Red Blend at 30% less than average US retail
You can save up to $17.70. Check current stock on the Casedrops app.
Best Prices for Orin Swift Papillon
Tasting Notes
Papillon is Orin Swift’s five-grape Bordeaux blend — 71% Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot rounding it out, aged 13 months in 44% new French oak. The 2022 vintage opens with an opaque crimson core and a brooding cardinal rim, showing ripe cassis, blackberry, coastal chaparral, cedar box and allspice on the nose. The palate carries cassis, pluot, blueberry and boysenberry through a round, weighty mid-palate, with dusty coating tannins and a finish of barbecue tri-tip, Madagascar vanilla and toffee. A natural match for roast lamb or a well-aged ribeye.
Awards
- Decanter (2022 vintage) — 94 points
- Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2022 Vintage) — 91 points
- The Wine Independent (2022 vintage) — 94 points
- Robert Parker (2022 vintage) — 92 points
Price Comparison
Casedrops: $59.50
Papillon Bordeaux Blend at 30% less than average US retail
You save can save up to $25.50. Check it out on the Casedrops app today.
Why Casedrops Has the Best Prices for Orin Swift Wines
Casedrops runs as a flash-sale membership model, which means savings get passed straight to members instead of sitting with a traditional retail markup. There’s no guesswork and no haggling — the price you see is the price you pay, and it’s consistently below what you’d find at typical US wine retailers. That’s how Casedrops can offer the best prices for Orin Swift wines across Mercury Head, Machete and Papillon at once, rather than just whichever bottle happens to be on sale that week. Download the Casedrops app to browse all our great discounts today!!!!