The Prisoner Wine Co., Napa Valley, Calif., introduced a new Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Carneros Chardonnay to accompany its flagship Napa Valley Red Blend under the label of The Prisoner.
This trio of wines is available online and at retailers nationwide in 750- and 375-ml formats, as well as a gift pack of three 375-ml bottles, arriving in time for the holidays.
Developed by The Prisoner Wine Co.’s Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittmann and her winemaking team, these new wines are sourced from the brand’s network of grape growers in Napa Valley. Wittmann blends interesting varietals to develop a unique palate for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, which echo the bold character of The Prisoner Red Blend, the company says.
“Loyal fans of The Prisoner Wine Co. will recognize the disruptive style of these new wines, which blend varietals from Napa Valley’s premier vineyards to achieve distinct character,” Wittmann said in a statement. “Blending new wines to stand alongside our namesake Red Blend has been an exciting new adventure for our winemaking team, and we’re pleased to finally share The Prisoner trio of wines with fans of the brand and new drinkers alike.”
Honoring The Prisoner’s signature artistically driven label imagery, the new wines are adorned with variations of The Prisoner’s Francisco de Goya “Le Petit Prisonier” etching. In the tradition of the Red Blend’s original, each new version takes on a different hue — blue (Cabernet Sauvignon) and green (Chardonnay) — with each label image seen from a slightly different angle.
“These new wines offer consumers the quality and irreverent taste they love about The Prisoner and allow us to meet the brand’s increasing consumer demand, which continues to grow year-over-year,” said Elisabeth Baron, vice president of marketing for The Prisoner Wine Co., in a statement. “The Prisoner has long dominated the luxury red blend category and we anticipate that The Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay will attract new consumers and play an integral role in the brand’s long-term growth.”
Each wine in the trio boasts a rich, complex flavor profile:
• The Prisoner Red Blend 2019: The Prisoner incorporates Zinfandel with an unlikely mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Charbono. This full-bodied fan-favorite has enticing aromas of Bing cherry, espresso and roasted fig. Persistent flavors of ripe raspberry, boysenberry, pomegranate and vanilla linger harmoniously for a smooth and luscious finish. The varietal has a suggested retail price (SRP) $49.
• The Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon 2018: This Cabernet Sauvignon has concentrated dark fruit flavors, culminating in a lush, full mouthfeel before a lengthy finish. On the nose, aromas of black cherry and ripe plum are layered with vanilla and baking spice. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine is blended with small amounts of Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah and Charbono. The new release has a $54.99 SRP.
• The Prisoner Chardonnay 2019: An intriguing blend of Chardonnay, Roussanne and Gewürztraminer, this wine is bursting with aromas of vanilla, crème brûlée and baked apple. Full-bodied and rich on the palate, flavors of pineapple and toasted oak integrate with the balanced acidity and a smooth finish. The new varietal has a $39.99 SRP.
The Prisoner Red Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay join a robust nationally distributed brand portfolio, which includes Saldo, a Zinfandel-dominant blend, and Eternally Silenced, a California Pinot Noir, as well as an array of winery-only bottlings, the company says. The Prisoner trio now is available for purchase in-store and online.
