Wine Of The Week: The Prisoner ‘Corrections’ Collection

Great California wine for a worthy cause.

In the early 2000s, Dave Phinney launched his own red blend, The Prisoner. It’s since grown from a small Napa winery with a cult following to a Constellation Brands-backed behemoth with a bevy of quality bottlings, from silky Petite Sirah to Carbono and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Though The Prisoner’s popularity has spread, the winery hasn’t lost sight of its socially conscious mission. The new Corrections Pack — comprised of three exclusive wines — funnels proceeds to the Rubicon Programs, a non-profit that helps participants move out of poverty.

There are three standout wines included in the Corrections Pack: a 2021 Viognier, a 2021 Malbec, and a 2021 Tempranillo. The Viognier is round and aromatic, with notes of honeysuckle, fresh apple, lychee, and apricot.

The Malbec is aged for ten months in both new and neutral oak for long tannins and characteristic plum, leather, and prune. The Sonoma County Tempranillo is blended with Malbec and Syrah, a process that adds a higher spice and herbaceousness  to Tempranillo’s floral, fruity characteristics.

Labels feature custom designs by Chris Burnett, and each bottle is wrapped in a custom black bag outfitted with QR codes that elaborate on Burnett’s work and the work of The Rubicon Project. $225

Kate Dingwall is a WSET-trained sommelier and spirits writer. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Forbes.com, and Food & Wine, and she pours wine at one of Canada’s top restaurants.