The Prisoner Wine Company Blindfold 2012
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Parker
Robert
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
The fruit from this wine is sourced throughout California’s Coastal wine regions. Director and Winemaking, Chrissy Wittmann partners with growers who are dedicated to cultivating unique varieties in the most recognized regions throughout California. The Chardonnay in Blindfold is sourced from Sonoma County, the Chenin Blanc from Mendocino, and the Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier from our growers in Santa Barbara.
The label artwork is based on one of the prints from the "Disasters of War" series by Spanish artist, Francisco de Goya. Similar to the artwork on The Prisoner label, The Blindfold label depicts atrocities of war between France and Spain during the artist’s time.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A distinctive combination of 35% Chardonnay, 20% Roussanne, 20% Viognier and small quantities of Riesling, Semillon, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc, the 2012 Blindfold is a sleeper of the vintage. Reminiscent of the Sine Qua Non whites from further south, it bursts with honeyed, caramelized white fruits, rose petals and pineapple. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity, brilliant purity and a delineation that is uncommon for a wine with so much flavor, this beauty should drink well for 2-3 years. I hope we see more blends such as this.
Other Vintages
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Enthusiast
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Parker
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The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. Since launch, The Prisoner soon became recognized as one of the most innovative Napa Valley wines, leading the resurgence of California red blends and earning “cult wine” status. Now complemented by a white blend (Blindfold), Chardonnay (The Snitch), Cabernet Sauvignon (Cuttings), Zinfandel (Saldo), Merlot (Thorn) and a Red Blend (Dérangé), The Prisoner Wine Company’s winemaking philosophy remains the same: To collaborate with a family of growers throughout California’s best winegrowing regions to craft wines of exceptional quality and unexpected character.
The Prisoner Wine Company acquires grapes from more than 100 vineyards throughout California’s premier grape-growing regions, partnering with phenomenal growers who are dedicated to cultivating unique varieties. Chrissy Wittmann and her team of winemakers collaborate with this family of growers, visiting each vineyard site throughout the year to carefully assess the style and quality of every lot to make the best possible wine from each vintage.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.