The Prisoner Wine Company

Saldo California Zinfandel

9.01646 ratings
8.867 pro ratings
California, USA
Zinfandel
Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, White Rice, Pasta, Potato, Herbs, Mushrooms, Soft Cheese, Chili & Hot Spicy, Tomato-Based, Duck, Exotic Spices, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Pork, Baking Spices, Pungent Cheese, Beef, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
"Odedi"

Pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish/brick rim.

Very fruity nose of black fruits, cedar, tobacco, spices and black pepper. Still smells fresh.

Full bodied with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, dried fruits, oak, cloves, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 5-year-old Zinfandel is drinking very nicely now, and displaying good aging characteristics, likely due to it being a 375 ml bottle. Complex, with a soft mouthfeel

Peaking now, so drink up. Good right out of the bottle and better than I expected.

Good by itself or with food. Stood up pretty well to the strong French Blue Cheese.

A blend of 85% Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Syrah.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$20 (375ml).

Pretty color of dark ruby, with a wide reddish/brick rim.

Very fruity nose of black fruits, cedar, tobacco, spices and black pepper. Still smells fresh.

Full bodied with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, dried fruits, oak, cloves, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 5-year-old Zinfandel is drinking very nicely now, and displaying good aging characteristics, likely due to it being a 375 ml bottle. Complex, with a soft mouthfeel

Peaking now, so drink up. Good right out of the bottle and better than I expected.

Good by itself or with food. Stood up pretty well to the strong French Blue Cheese.

A blend of 85% Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Syrah.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$20 (375ml).

Oct 6th, 2024
Boris Mathiszik

Smooth Zin, with the typical peppery notes. I am not the greatest fan of Zin, but this one is solid. Not a wine for everyone.

Smooth Zin, with the typical peppery notes. I am not the greatest fan of Zin, but this one is solid. Not a wine for everyone.

Nov 7th, 2022
Andrew S

Red fruits, celery, hints of spice.

Red fruits, celery, hints of spice.

Dec 17th, 2017
Cory Fierro

This has all the hallmarks of a quality zinfandel, down to the jammy red fruits and pepperish nose. What sets it apart is the first notes I smelled when I stuck my nose in the glass: gorgeous red and purple flowers that offer grace and beauty to an otherwise behemoth of a wine. At 15.9% abv this wine drinks even higher, if you can believe that. Drink with food, but enjoy regardless.

This has all the hallmarks of a quality zinfandel, down to the jammy red fruits and pepperish nose. What sets it apart is the first notes I smelled when I stuck my nose in the glass: gorgeous red and purple flowers that offer grace and beauty to an otherwise behemoth of a wine. At 15.9% abv this wine drinks even higher, if you can believe that. Drink with food, but enjoy regardless.

15 people found it helpfulFeb 5th, 2015
Tyler Christensen

Monster wine. Fruit, a bit of pepper, nice structure. Paired quite nicely with steak and potatoes

Monster wine. Fruit, a bit of pepper, nice structure. Paired quite nicely with steak and potatoes

5 people found it helpfulAug 23rd, 2015
Lauren Jenks

Jammy jam jam. A little pepper. Smooth. Good with my lamb curry.

Jammy jam jam. A little pepper. Smooth. Good with my lamb curry.

5 people found it helpfulJul 30th, 2015
Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.6

Heavy oak.

Heavy oak.

3 people found it helpfulJan 24th, 2015
Grant Nieland

2013 not as good as some earlier years but still a great zin spicy, with peppers and a hint of vodka. I wonder if they tried this on the Netflix original story Somm? This wine is red, this wine is medium+ bodied, pepper...blah blah blah this is good.

2013 not as good as some earlier years but still a great zin spicy, with peppers and a hint of vodka. I wonder if they tried this on the Netflix original story Somm? This wine is red, this wine is medium+ bodied, pepper...blah blah blah this is good.

2 people found it helpfulAug 1st, 2015
Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

7.9

Well technically it is one of the better Zins that I have ever had but it is EXACTLY what you would expect. There isn't anything daring or unique. Big and fruity, tons of oak that blows off. There should be more to wine than this.

Well technically it is one of the better Zins that I have ever had but it is EXACTLY what you would expect. There isn't anything daring or unique. Big and fruity, tons of oak that blows off. There should be more to wine than this.

2 people found it helpfulDec 14th, 2013
Jake Hajer

This is ORIN SWIFTS Saldo before it was sold to become prisoner. 2009 Saldo. Was beautiful, bold and aged perfectly. Black Forest chocolate cake.

This is ORIN SWIFTS Saldo before it was sold to become prisoner. 2009 Saldo. Was beautiful, bold and aged perfectly. Black Forest chocolate cake.

1 person found it helpfulJul 1st, 2020