December Wine Club Newsletter | The Prisoner Wine Company

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CELLAR

It is a wrap! Another great vintage is in the books with our last day of harvesting grapes finishing in mid-October. Decent rainfall over the last year led to excellent vine health and well-developed canopies. The growing cycle began in mid-March with bud break and was completed in early April – a sure sign that we were on schedule. Summer was mild and included a few heat spells that brought the ripeness we had been waiting for. The mid-summer heat advanced the growing season forward a bit and harvest kicked off with Sauvignon Blanc on August 21st. The first red varietal picked was Grenache from Wooden Valley, a little southeast of Napa Valley, then Pinot Noir led the way. Our other varietals came in, all looking great, and harvest was off to a fantastic start! Cheers to our dedicated cellar crew and the busy months ahead as we bottle last year’s vintage and ferment the new! Here’s to the wonderful wines that await!

CLUB SCHEDULE

November 1 - Online ability to customize allocation is open

November 12 - Email Notification

November 15 - Reminder Email Notification

November 20 - Last day to modify or add wines to your allocation 

November 20 - Online ability to customize allocation is closed 

November 21 - Credit cards charged 

November 25 - Last day to make shipping changes

December 3 - Wines ship 

The Prisoner bottles of wine in a wine rack

WHAT'S INCLUDED

We are excited to offer these new releases exclusively to our club members before anyone else.

LINE UP 3:

2023 Complicit Red Blend – 1 bottle
2023 Solder GSM, Napa Valley – 1 bottle
2022 Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 1 bottle

LINE UP 6:

2023 Complicit Red Blend – 2 bottles
2023 Solder GSM, Napa Valley – 2 bottles
2022 Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 2 bottles

FRINGE:

2023 Complicit Red Blend – 4 bottles
2023 Solder GSM, Napa Valley – 4 bottles
2022 Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 4 bottles

2023 Complicit Red Blend

The newest iteration of a convention-defying collaboration from The Prisoner Wine Co. and High West Whiskey, Complicit Red Blend is always one of our most flavorful wines. Partially aged in High West bourbon and rye barrels, this full-bodied blend of hand-picked Zinfandel and Sangiovese is ready to impress aficionados of all kinds. Tannins were a bit big in 2023 which led to blending touches of Tempranillo and Petite Sirah to achieve our desired balance.

Each vineyard block was held in tank separate through to barreling. Meticulous work was done to determine lots that would see these beautiful Rye and Bourbon barrels from High West. The Whiskey barrels were still wet with spirit when wine was transferred to them. The wine aged in a mix of Whiskey and barrique wine barrels for 9 months before blending and bottling.

2023 Solder GSM, Napa Valley

Old-World elegance meets New-World taste with this blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah – a contemporary classic. Three grapes joined together; flavor soldered into a blend to provoke the palate.

On the nose, hints of ripe blueberry, blackberry, Provencal herbs, cola and hints of sweet spice lead the way. Flavors are bursting on the palate … ripe dark fruits, with bright acid and texture holding tension in the wine and carrying through to a long-balanced finish. The long vintage allowed for us to make easy and precise picking decisions to bring signature soft, but structured balance to the mouthfeel.

Grenache brings texture and red fruit, Syrah brings a bit of brine and meat with fresh blueberries and a rich mid palate while Mourvèdre brings the dark red fruit and earth. This is a wine we're very proud to offer. An ode to old world elegance with a density that brings the Prisoner signature.

2022 Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon

Rooted in the legacy of The Prisoner Wine Company, this Cabernet Sauvignon stands as a compelling expression of bold elegance, pushing the boundaries of tradition to create an unforgettable tasting experience.

The Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of cinnamon bark, clove, Christmas cake, crushed rock layered with dried currant and fresh ground coffee. Palate is soft and plush with a full mid palate and sturdy lengthy finish. Flavors of black coffee, dried red berries, dominate with hints of holiday spices carrying through to the finish. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Malbec.

The wine's fine-grained tannins provide structure, while a lingering finish leaves a lasting impression of sophistication and depth. Cheers!