2023 The Prisoner Wine Company - Red Blend HALF BOTTLE (750ml)

The Prisoner Wine Company got its start in Rutherford, in the heart of Napa Valley, when winemaker Dave Phinney released the first vintage of his flagship red blend in 2000, drawing on old field-blend vineyards like Morisoli in Rutherford and Tofanelli in Calistoga. The wine took its name and its now-iconic label from a 19th-century Goya etching, a nod to breaking away from convention in a region built on single-varietal Cabernet. That original blend built a devoted following, and though ownership has changed hands since, the winery has kept the same experimental, boundary-pushing approach to blending that defined it from the start.

The Red Blend brings together Zinfandel as its foundation, joined by Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, echoing the old "mixed black" field blends once common in California's historic vineyards. Fruit is drawn from growers across Napa Valley known for old vines and varied soils, and the wine is aged with a meaningful share of new oak, roughly a third of the blend, to build sweetness and depth around the fruit.

Expect a full, opulent glass of cranberry, blackberry, and dried plum, layered with caramelized vanilla, nutmeg, and toasted coconut. The mouthfeel is soft and luscious, with integrated spice carrying through a smooth, lingering finish. Serve it with smoked brisket, grilled sausages, or a sharp aged cheddar.