ORIN SWIFT THE PRISONER 2007

THE GRADE: Amazing. THE MOJO: So this weekend, we poured the Orin Swift The Prisoner 2007 ($32.99) at our Proprietary Wines tastings, and as expected, it went over extremely well. Always a bit difficult to get, this Napa Valley cult producer demonstrates the rich, juicy prowess of Zinfandel in this Zin-dominant blend. At 15.2% alcohol, you’d expect the wine to taste hot, but with the additions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache, this multi-layered fruit monster actually demonstrates a grace that is missing in a lot of California wines. Though its sweet black fruit aromas and flavors are hedonistic, and don’t get me wrong, this IS a fruit bomb wine, there is surprising acidity and balance that you wouldn’t really expect. There is a lot of concentration and depth here, and I am sure that a few years in the cellar would only give it more luxuriousness on the palate.