Wine of the Week

 

The Prisoner, Orin Swift, 2004

The Prisoner is back! Who knows what's in it, but it's pretty darn good. Word on the street is that winemaker David Phinney is so well liked in Napa and Sonoma, that the best vineyards provide him with their left-over premium grapes. He won't say who his sources are, or exactly what makes up this robust red, but he's doing something right. The Dabbler loved the '03, and though she hasn't tried the '04 yet, she's stocking up.

Currently available at Wally's in West Los Angeles, their website reads:

Young winemaker David Phinney’s wildly popular concoction of red wine from the Napa Valley has returned! His luscious 2004 version is a stellar follow-up to last year’s edition, which the Wine Spectator’s James Laube praised with a 92 point rating. As a longtime supporter of the brand, David rewards Wally’s with a generous amount of this limited-production wine. In turn, as a reward to our loyal e-club members, we are introducing the 2004 The Prisoner to you at last year’s pricing! (David raised the bottle price by $3.00, but at $28 it remains a solid value.)

Another section of Wally's sites gives a bit more insight into the wine's composition:

What differentiates David’s blend from so many others from the Napa Valley – aside from the comfortable price – is his fantastic source of old-vine fruit from growers committed to producing quality over quantity. This year’s Prisoner is once again composed of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Syrah and Charbono, and its deep color and marvelous flavors telegraph the excellence of the 2004 vintage. David makes several wines, but he candidly admits The Prisoner is his favorite wine to make. It follows naturally that for hundreds of his fans, The Prisoner is their favorite wine to drink!

Enroll in Wally's e-club and buy it for the aforementioned discounted price.