The Prisoner Wine Co. - 2016 "Salto" red blend [California]

Here's an interesting bottle of wine which I had recently at the Char restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi, of all places. It's from The Prisoner Wine Co., an Rutherford, CA-based winery led by Chrissy Wittmann. Known for a small yet respectable range of wines, Prisoner's offerings are mid-level wines, most of them in the $30+ pricepoint. Although this doesn't constitute "mid-level" for most wine drinkers, it is far cheaper than many other wines on the market.

This wine, made from grapes from Dry Creek (Healdsburg), Lodi, and Amador County, is a blend of 85% Zinfandel and 15% Syrah and Petit Syrah. And yes, the wine label is actually from a label maker.

Very, very good. I love Zinfandel and this does not disappoint. The wine is a dark red in the glass, and purple when put to the light. The flavors are very full, with lots of dark fruit tastes, like black cherries, with a little bit of spicy tannins. It's not too heavy or hot to be unapproachable, but just the right blend of strength and flavor. The taste lingers long after swallowing, and has a hint of tannic esters.

What strikes me most is the balance. It's hard to describe this quality in wine - harmonious sounds too much like a Wine Spectator-type "jargon" word, but it fit in this case. In some wines, it's easy to pick out flavors, or perhaps one dominates over all, or it appears unfinished (paging "Two Buck Chuck") but this one is full of flavor, velvety smooth, and a perfect pairing to a fine porterhouse. In fact, this is one of those wines that is so delicious, you'll keep wanting more and more. In fact, I seriously considered a second bottle for after dinner.

It's well worth the $30 one might spend retail on the bottle. I won't tell you what it cost at the restaurant, but if you find this for $30, grab it. It's definitely a wine to seek out if you want a special bottle to pair with that Sunday steak dinner, or something to open on a special occasion. You won't be disappointed.