External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.6 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 630 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by AllRed on 5/27/2023 & rated 92 points: 4th Saturday Group: Old & Young (J&S): Double blind. Shows a little age with slight bricking at the meniscus. Notes of red berry fruit and forest floor. The palate follows the bouquet. Showing very well. (R&D) (1117 views) | | | Tasted by Bowmanifesto on 5/14/2023 & rated 92 points: I am much more positive than most other recent reviewers. Significant aging has rendered this wine magnificent in sophistication. It's strengths show off in the secondaries and tertiaries. Many people want the fruit of youth to still play strong. Have patience, folks. Subtlety and full integration are strengths all of their own. I am captive of The Prisoner. (966 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 8/16/2022 & rated 91 points: Still a nice bottle of zinfandel. Dark red fruit and a touch of spice leading to a moderately long finish. (1822 views) | | | Tasted by mowtod on 7/8/2022 & rated 87 points: With burgers 4 July . Still good (1672 views) | | | Tasted by JCaress on 11/29/2021 & rated 91 points: Drinks surprisingly well with good fruit and mouthfeel Too hot with alcohol for my preference. (2237 views) | | | Tasted by BcDuncan on 10/7/2021 & rated 91 points: warm and expressive, smooth Zin (1672 views) | | | Tasted by garrigue65 on 8/2/2021 & rated 94 points: Dark fruit and tobacco with pepper spice and smooth tannins. Still in a wonderful drinking window. (1750 views) | | | Tasted by NY Wino on 7/18/2021 & rated 91 points: Still had good fruit, spice and nice finish. (1213 views) | | | Tasted by garrigue65 on 3/18/2021 & rated 92 points: same as previous note. Very enjoyable. Drink up. (1431 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 3/17/2021 & rated 91 points: Well we had a bunch of friends over for St. Patrick's Day. We finished an open bottle of the SBR Merlot and the SBR Cabernet and had this bottle as well. The nose was all red fruit. The palate was red plums, dark cherry, pipe tobacco and hints of spice. The finish was moderate to long.
So discovered that between a cabernet, a merlot and a zinfandel that the best match for all the corned beef and cabbage that we ate was some Guinness. Corned beef is just not a wine friendly food. I am definitely open for suggestions for next year. (1181 views) | | | Tasted by cab blends on 12/24/2020 & rated 93 points: Rich and fruity. (Not blind)
I would not have thought this was 11 years old. (1216 views) | | | Tasted by Spargel on 12/19/2020 & rated 92 points: Nose with cherry, but not very strong anymore. On palate still surprisingly strong: on the sweet side, with dark fruits, some oak, tannins well integrated and some valuable acidity. Medium finish. Overall positively surprised, was worried that far over peak. (998 views) | | | Tasted by JuliannaDHS on 8/3/2020 & rated 90 points: This last bottle was surprisingly primary with loads of peppery fruit and substantial tannins. (1337 views) | | | Tasted by Tallhoyalawya on 7/22/2020 & rated 87 points: No fruit left but the alcohol is no longer overbearing. (992 views) | | | Tasted by garrigue65 on 4/5/2020 & rated 92 points: The Zinfandel backbone of pepper notes is quite evident. The usual impressions of prior bottles include dark fruit, tobacco, leather and long finish with tamed tannins. Paired with lamb, this venerable Prisoner shined. BTW just popped and poured no decant. Not certain this improves with further cellaring, its drinking well on this visit. (1322 views) | | | Tasted by Spargel on 12/24/2019 & rated 87 points: Strong nice nose with cherries, unfortunately not keeping promise on palate which has not much fruit anymore. Drink now. (1358 views) | | | Tasted by garrigue65 on 12/13/2019 & rated 93 points: Beautifully aged Zinfandel blend. Drinking very well right now. (1339 views) | | | Tasted by garrigue65 on 11/29/2019 & rated 92 points: Three hour decant. Wonderful dark fruit with leather, tobacco and smoke on finish. Still drinking very well. (1161 views) | | | Tasted by KTwines31 on 8/8/2018: Too fruity (3241 views) | | | Tasted by Mackall817 on 11/3/2017 & rated 89 points: Garnet/ruby colored wine that paired well with short ribs and halibut cheeks appetizer at one of the great restaurants in DC. This wine was served along with 2 other superb wines from Silver Oak and France so it was in high company. Didn't fare as well when served side by side with those but definitely worth drinking. Pleasant after taste--not quite as powerful as the others but solid on its own. (4362 views) | | | Tasted by Millennial Drinkers on 7/16/2017 & rated 92 points: First of the two blind Zinfandel blends paired with our turkey burgers and black bean veggie burgers. Deep garnet red. A bit herbal on the nose with dark fruits that became stronger with air. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and light plus to medium bodied. Rich and plush attack, drinking its best between hour one and two. Notes of strawberry jam, boysenberries, blackcurrants, bramble berries, blue fruits, asian spices and a touch of cocoa. Finish lingers for quite a bit. Drink till 2019.
This Prisoner was the last vintage under Orin Swift before being sold to Huneeus Vintners. This vintage is made up of 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Malbec and 1% Grenache. Needed twenty minutes or so to open up but beautiful fruits after that. (6551 views) | | | Tasted by cab blends on 7/16/2017 & rated 92 points: Blind tasting: Jammy nose. I think this needs decanting - Popped and poured.
Ruby red. Body is young with dark extraction and strong alcohol finish. (seems to very high in alcohol)
Initial attack is very fruit and blue berries. That lasts into the finish. This is a powerhouse. Decanting works nicely.
Nose 7 Heavy 7 Fruit 9 Dry 4 Tannins 6 Finish 6 (6376 views) | | | Tasted by lewisrise on 4/30/2017 & rated 91 points: Paired with lemon shrimp pasta dish. Matched surprisingly well. Jammy with chocolate finish. Well balanced with thick, long legs (7169 views) | | | Tasted by Shiff5 on 4/14/2017: Heavy cherry flavor (5649 views) | | | Tasted by David_T on 5/15/2016 & rated 88 points: Others liked this better than I. Still some pleasant fruit and not too hot but what structure was there has succumbed to the fruit and somewhat high alcohol. It is what it is and many like it, it just needs more acidity to balance. Drink now. (9062 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Orin Swift Producer website2009 Orin Swift The Prisoner
The 2009 marks the first vintage bottled by The Prisoner's new owner, Huneeus Vintners. We are very pleased to be working with the Huneeus family and look forward to many successful harvests together.
This vintage has a deep ruby hue that is nearly opaque. The aromas elevate from the glass starting with black currant, dark blackberry, cherry, and cassis rounded out by subtle hints of seasoned French and American oak. The entry of the wine is massive and leads into a lush middle framed by bright acid and supple tannins. The finish is long, lingering and filled with soft velvety tannins lasting for nearly thirty seconds.
—Dave Phinney, winemaker
51% Zinfandel
19% Cabernet Sauvignon
18% Syrah
7% Petite Sirah
3% Charbono
1% Grenache
1% Malbec
*these numbers are approximate
USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
|
