It's Harvest Time
After a very long and mild growing season, 2023 harvest is in full swing. Only four weeks later than 2022. I know you probably hear this a lot but this year it is very, very true. The quality from the 2023 vintage looks exceptional for Napa and Sonoma. The flavors, color and tannin coming through from the fermentations are leaps and bounds above 2022 which was struck by intense heat. 2023’s growing season has been milder than anticipated making winemakers and growers anxious but what we are relieved by what we are seeing in the fermenters. Every harvest year is different from the year before and that’s one thing I love about winemaking and makes me so glad it’s my career. Challenges that Mother Nature gives our winemaking team motivates us to be better and better. We love it.
- Chrissy Whitman
Winemaker
2021 Dérangé Napa Valley
Dérangé is one of the most fun and rewarding wines for our winemaking team. It is a blend of the best lots and gets more exciting each year. My favorites this vintage was Cabernet Sauvignon lots from To Kalon Vineyards, D’Adamo, and Wappo Hill blended with Petite Sirah from Meyer Vineyard in Calistoga and Syrahs from Hozhoni and Desimone.
This wine is full, rich, and extremely flavorful. The blend is 63% Cabernet, 20% Syrah, and 17% Petite Sirah aged in 60% new oak, a mix of French and American and aged for 16 months before bottling. Pairs with a rich and buttery ribeye or a Tuesday cheeseburger – this is a wine meant to celebrate life!
2022 Solder Napa Valley GSM
Solder is a classic Prisoner Red Blend made from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. This is a new wine and a bit of homage to Todd Ricard, one of our amazing winemakers.
On the nose, hints of dried flower petals, dried cranberries and black pepper lead the way. On the palate fine tannins carry earth notes along with fresh red and blue fruits across the palate. Syrah brings a bit of brine and meat, Grenache brings texture and red fruit, and Mourvèdre brings the dark red fruit and earth. An ode to old world elegance with a density that brings the Prisoner signature - this is a wine we're very excited to showcase.
All the fruit was harvested by hand and gently destemmed, then fermented in tank for 10-14 days. The must is then pressed to remove the skins and seeds, then transferred to a mix of new and neutral French oak barrels. This wine only needed to age for 10 months in a mix of new and neutral French Oak, as the tannins resolved nicely in a short amount of time. This wine will age for 10 - 15 years but is made to drink now!
2021 Sliver Red Blend
Showcasing the meticulous farming of our growers we are proud to introduce a new offering – Sliver. A blend of Syrah, Petit Sirah and Zinfandel this is a wine sure to please.
Super inky velvety wine with aromas of crushed black cherry, blueberry scone, and a hint of cinnamon. A very complex and fruit forward wine, the Syrah contributes the blueberry and cherry notes, the Petite Sirah gives excellent color, robust tannin structure, and depth and finishing this off is a sliver of mountain Zinfandel. The perfect fit to bridging these varietals together.
All the fruit was harvested by hand and gently destemmed, then fermented in tank for 10-14 days. The must is pressed to remove the skins and seeds. The lots then age separately in a mix of new French and American oak for 8 months. After 8 months, we blend them, barrel age for another 8 months and then bottle. Sliver is drinking beautifully now but can easily age another 10+ years. Our suggestion? Buy a few bottles to drink now, hold a few to drink later – you will thank us!
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