The Prisoner Wine Company Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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Wilfred
Wong
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Winemaker Notes
Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon, opens with aromas of plum and blackberry with a hint of olive. Vibrant flavors of black stone fruit and dried herbs with solid tannin structure result in a flavor-forward red wine with balanced acidity. A delicious red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Merlot, this wine combines grapes from the north and central coast of California and is aged in French and American oak casks for 11 months.
Pair this flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon wine with pork meatballs in a tomato sauce or dark chocolate and raspberry layer cake. Serve this wine bottle just below room temperature by refrigerating for up to 30 minutes.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon is packed and well-built. TASTING NOTES: This wine is a prototype of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its steady aromas and flavors of bright black fruit and oak accents stay long and persistent on the palate. Pair it with grilled short ribs. (Tasted: January 17, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
Other Vintages
2021-
Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred
Wong
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.
Covering the most vine acreage in the state compared to any other red wine variety, Cabernet Sauvignon produces as much wine in California as Merlot and Pinot Noir combined. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates, as well as the freedom of its winemakers, allow for an incredible range of wine styles from this single grape.
California’s most famous region—and especially for Cabernet Sauvignon—is the acclaimed Napa Valley. While Cabernet is successful throughout the world, rarely has it achieved such merit as it does from the Napa Valley. At this point the two are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other.
Napa’s closest neighbor, Sonoma County, does an impressive job keeping up with Napa’s fame and glory. Alexander Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Moon Mountain and Knights Valley contribute to the lot of some of California’s top-rated Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lake County in California’s North Coast has become a focus for some of Napa’s more respected growers. From the Central Coast come iconic examples of classic California Cabernet; Lodi and the Sierra Foothills are great budget-friendly sources of amicable Cabernets.