2023 The Prisoner Wine Company - Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)

The Prisoner Wine Company traces back to 2000, when a young winemaker named Dave Phinney released just 385 cases of a Zinfandel-driven red blend inspired by an old Goya etching of a chained prisoner, a symbol of breaking from winemaking convention. The wine's dark label and unconventional style built a cult following, and the brand grew steadily under new ownership over the following years while keeping its rebellious identity intact. Based in St. Helena in the heart of Napa Valley, the winery today continues that same spirit of blending across varietals rather than sticking to a single grape.

This Cabernet Sauvignon leans on fruit from long-standing grower relationships across Napa Valley, including sites in Calistoga and St. Helena that have supplied the winery since its earliest vintages. The wine is built around roughly ninety percent Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded out with small additions of Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Malbec, then aged in oak to bring out warmth and structure without losing the fruit's core character. The approach favors depth and richness, a hallmark of the winery's broader style.

The nose offers cinnamon bark, clove, and a whisper of Christmas cake, layered with crushed rock, dried currant, and fresh coffee. The palate turns soft and plush, filling out into a full mid-palate before a long, structured finish built on fine-grained tannins. Pour it with a grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, or a dark chocolate torte.