The Prisoner
2005 Red Wine
The 2005 Prisoner is a rich, fruit forward wine with the ripe berry characteristics of the 2003 with the balanced structure of the 2004. Aromatically, it may be the most complex and evolved vintage at this stage. The nose of this delicious wine is sweet, ripe, quietly smoky and very attractively fruity. You'll find hints of licorice root, black tea, vanilla and coffee toffee that meld seamlessly with dark cherry, plum and blackberry scents in an engaging mix. The wine is every bit as charming on the palate, where the creamy vanilla, toffee and black tea notes are reprised while the flavors shift toward pomegranate and red raspberry. The finish is lingering and never less than silky, and those savory tea/toast notes keep the wines fruitiness from overstating itself.
With airing, a more Zin-like personality emerges and black pepper, red raspberry, plum and pomegranate take center stage. Lovely already, it will serve brilliantly with many dishes, from roasts to bread and cheese picnics.
The blend has similar characteristics as past vintages with:
48% Zinfandel
26% Cabernet Sauvignon
14% Syrah
10% Petite Syrah
2% Charbono
