The Prisoner Wine Company is leading the resurgence of California red blends. They acquire grapes from more than 100 vineyards throughout California’s premier grape-growing regions of various varietals to create their blends. The Prisoner Red Blend 2021 which I received was inspired by the wines first made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. It was released two decades ago as a complex blend of some of California’s best and most unusual grape varieties.
The Prisoner 2021 is a red wine blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono grapes. Have you heard of Charbono before? If not, does Bonarda sound familiar? They are the same grape. Bonarda is probably best known for being grown in Argentina and is the second most widely planted red grape after Malbec. I read that Charbono is primarily grown in the Calistoga area of California. Now you know.
The Label
From the winery, “Our brand name and flagship label were inspired by an etching titled Le Petit Prisonnier by 19th century Spanish artist Francisco Goya. Its subtitle translates to “the custody is as barbaric as the crime”. The sketch is part of Goya’s series The Disasters of War, created as a visual protest to the injustice and brutality of the Spanish War of Independence in 1808. From our founding, The Prisoner Wine Company has stood against oppression while embracing creativity. Fighting injustices in our society, especially those tied to our prison and policing systems, is indelibly etched into our identity and a focus of our commitment as an organization. At The Prisoner, we know that the problems in the U.S. prison system are ingrained, nuanced, and seemingly intractable. We also believe that change can happen and that it starts with conversation, collaboration, and creativity.”
My Wine Tasting Notes
The Prisoner Wine Company The Prisoner Red Blend 2021 (BC $69.99. On sale at BCL $59.99 till Dec 28.)
Appearance: It has a dull, opaque garnet colour with a ruby tinge in the glass.
Nose: Medium-intensity sweet aromas of black fruits, ripe plums, cedar, sweet spices and a touch of oak. You get juicy berry aromas and some nutmeg after decanting.
Palate: Dryish with medium body, soft and lightly round mouthfeel. Sweet ripe black fruit, black plums, black cherries and touches of pepperiness and oak on the palate. Medium acidity and lighter tannins. With decanting you now get juicy berry flavours, touches of sweet spices and chocolate, and the wine becomes more peppery.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing off-dry with black fruit, plums, light pepperiness and sweet spice flavours. The tannins get stronger on the finish and increase with time in the glass. A little more pepperiness and firmer tannins after decanting.
This wine is better with decanting as the stronger tannins give the wine some structure. I also like the juicy berry aromas and flavours. I wish it was a little drier on the palate.
Rating: 
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with decanting. It is an opaque garnet colour with a ruby tinge. Medium-intensity sweet aromas of juicy berries, black fruits, ripe plums, cedar, sweet spices and a touch of oak. Dryish with medium body, acidity, and tannins. Sweet ripe black fruit, black plums, black cherries, juicy berries, and touches of pepperiness and oak on the palate. A medium-plus length.
Collaboration for the Holidays
The Prisoner Wine Co. has partnered with renowned Toronto-based multi-disciplinary artist Anthony Riccardi to create a limited-time-only (LTO) wine box design. From December 1st to 30th, these LTO exclusive gift boxes featuring Riccardi’s distinctive heart motif will come with all purchases of The Prisoner Red Blend at the BCL, while supplies last.
Anthony Riccardi’s story and artwork align with the Prisoner Wine Co.’s ideology. After attending Alabama State University on a baseball scholarship followed by five years working in finance, Anthony switched gears to pursue his true passion – art. The challenge? Anthony is colour-blind. But that didn’t stop him from creating vivid works of art using a range of vibrant colours and patterns, overcoming what many would consider an obstacle. Today, his collections are showcased around the globe.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
This wine is available for purchase at BC Liquor stores and at Everything Wine stores.
