2019 Prisoner Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Charbono.  It is a big wine in the style of the Prisoner but perhaps a bit more "serious" if that makes sense.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cedar, dark chocolate, baking spices and slight coffee notes.  Full bodied.

2019 Prisoner Wine Company The Prisoner

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Hard to believe this wine has been made for twenty years now.  It is a proprietary blend of red grapes that has thrilled its audience consistently and the 2019 is no exception.  Inky purple in color, garnet at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, figs, baking spices and slight bramble notes.  Full bodied.  Juicy acidity. Medium tannins.

2019 Prisoner Wine Company Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, USA, California, WIne Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast.  It fits nicely into The Prisoner Wine Company's portfolio.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is big with bold cherry and black cherry fruit.  There is also some spice and a touch of cola notes.  Full bodied with a lovely texture.  On the palate, the ripe cherry fruit comes thru with underlying vanilla and spice. Very tasty.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work with bolder foods from Salmon to pork.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2019 Prisoner Wine Company Chardonnay, USA, California, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is Chardonnay with some Roussanne, and Gewürztraminer added from California.  Imagine if the Prisoner Wine Company made a Chard, this is just what you would expect.  And they did and it is.  Light yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has vanilla, spice, baked apples and slight caramel.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has plenty of apples with some vanilla and spice.  This is a big and bold (as opposed to crisp and clean) style of Chardonnay and should be very popular among those who like that style (and there are many).  Expect to see this popping up a lot at parties th

2017 Zorah Karasi, Armenia, Vayots Dzor, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This is a very interesting wine (and good, too).  100% Areni grapes grown at 4,000 feet altitude.  Fermented in temperature controlled concrete vats ad then aged for 12 months in traditional amphorae.  Ruby in color with a purple core, opaque but flat in appearance.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, cranberries, black pepper and slight dried flowers.  Medium to full bodied.  It has a "warm" quality which seems different from alcohol.  Complex with layers of fruit and spice.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This seems on the young side, it should drink well for another seven to ten years.

2016 Yacoubian Hobbs Areni Rind, Armenia, Vayots Dzor, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$34.00USD

This is a joint venture with the Yacoubian family and Paul Hobbs (who makes wine all over the world).  Tasted side by side with the 2015 vintage, I preferred the 2015.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cranberries, black cherries and dust.  With air some black pepper.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, cranberries and black pepper.  Tart fruit.  Long finish.  Very similar to the 2015 but everything turned down a notch.  Is it the vintage?  Does it need more time?  Some other reason?  I truly have no idea, but this is still a fine and interesting wine.  It drinks

2015 Yacoubian Hobbs Areni Rind, Armenia, Vayotz Dzor, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is a joint venture between traveling winemaker Paul Hobbs and the Yacoubian family made from 100% Areni grapes grown at 4,000 feet elevation.  Tasted side by side with the 2016, this seemed to be clearly better.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cranberries, black cherries, slight baking spices, and a bit of dried flowers.  Medium to full  bodied.  On the palate, the cranberries and black cherries come thru with a bit of underlying dust.  Good balance.  Lively energy.  Long finish.  This has depth and complexity.  It seems like it should drink well for another fi

2013 Old Bridge Areni Reserve, Armenia, Arpa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This is made from the Areni Grape, one of the oldest known varieties in the world, in Armenia.  Aged for 24 months in Armenian oak barrels.  Ruby in color, garnet at the core, a bit flat and cloudy.  On the nose, this is full of spices, with black cherries and slight cranberries.  A nice backbone of acidity.  The black cherries and cranberries carry thru to the palate.  Tart fruit.  Depth and complexity.  This works better with food; Chikofte or Armenian "Steak Tartare" would probably work well as would a burger off the grill.  Drink over the next five to seven years (a guess).  

2019 Aran Voskehat Sarafian Vineyard, Armenia, Askeran, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This wine is made from the Voskehat grape in Armenia.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is steely with some vanilla and orange peel.  Medium bodied with a nice, crisp texture.  On the palate, this has nice minerality, almonds and slight citrus.  Nice depth and a bit of complexity.  Some acidity.  Nice finish.  This is good as well as interesting.  It probably should be consumed in the next couple of years.  It should work well with sea food or lighter chicken dishes.  

2014 Voskevaz Wine Cellar Voskepar, Armenia, Aragatsotn, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
82
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

This is probably past prime and would have shown better a few years ago (just a guess).  It is made from the Voskeat grape which can be traced back at least 3,000 years.  The grapes are grown at around 1,600 feet in altitude and then fermented in both Armenian Oak and stainless.  The wine is light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a lot of minerals with a bit of quince.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some minerality but not much fruit.  Short finish.  This is not a bad wine, there are no obvious faults, it just left us wanting more.  Anything, something.  I

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