90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petite Sirah, 3% Syrah, 1% Malbec

Food pairings: Grilled ribeye, braised beef, aged Gouda and richly spiced dishes.

Winemaking: Rooted in the legacy of The Prisoner Wine Company, this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon pairs boldness with elegance, with a touch of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Malbec. The heat of 2022 led the team to adjust fermentation management: with slightly less tannin in the vintage, pump-overs were more frequent and some lots had extended maceration, building power while keeping the approachability that is a Prisoner signature. After 21 to 27 days of skin contact the wine was pressed, racked and returned twice to blend, and aged in a mix of French and American oak barrels, 55% new, before bottling.

Vineyards and terroir: The fruit is sourced from Napa Valley. Despite the heat, many of the winery's vineyards gave fruit of great quality in 2022, which allowed the team to make a Cabernet of depth and polish.

Family and history: The Prisoner was created in 2000 by winemaker Dave Phinney and quickly gained cult status, changing the perception of what a California red could be. Its label, Francisco de Goya's etching "Le Petit Prisonnier" from the Disasters of War series, expresses the tension between confinement and freedom that drives the brand. Today The Prisoner Wine Company welcomes visitors on Highway 29 in Napa Valley, where Director of Winemaking Todd Ricard and his team craft its family of rule-bending wines.

In the pictures: Director of Winemaking Todd Ricard in the barrel room, and the tasting room at The Prisoner Wine Company in Napa Valley (photos: Mark Davis, courtesy of The Prisoner Wine Company).