The Prisoner Wine Company

Thorn Napa Valley Merlot

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

It's Thursday and it is time for #MerlotThursday! This time, a wonderful one from Napa Valley.

Dark purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, peppermint, light coffee, mocha, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cherries, strawberry pie, licorice, cloves, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins, tangy raspberries and light medicine.

This is another wonderful wine from the Prisoner wine Company. This Napa Valley Merlot is well-balanced with nice complexity and mouthfeel. Bold, rich and juicy, with mellow tannins and a tangy long finish.


This 5-year old is peaking now and will drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Needs an hour to open up properly. I used the Vspin for 5 minutes.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

91 points Wine Spectator.

A blend of 77% Merlot and the rest is Syrah and Malbec. Great vintage and a delicious wine.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.

It's Thursday and it is time for #MerlotThursday! This time, a wonderful one from Napa Valley.

Dark purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, peppermint, light coffee, mocha, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied, bold and smooth, with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cherries, strawberry pie, licorice, cloves, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins, tangy raspberries and light medicine.

This is another wonderful wine from the Prisoner wine Company. This Napa Valley Merlot is well-balanced with nice complexity and mouthfeel. Bold, rich and juicy, with mellow tannins and a tangy long finish.


This 5-year old is peaking now and will drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Needs an hour to open up properly. I used the Vspin for 5 minutes.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

91 points Wine Spectator.

A blend of 77% Merlot and the rest is Syrah and Malbec. Great vintage and a delicious wine.

15.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.

Jul 12th, 2018
Kristin the Wine Girl

Woodsy rose, clove and dark berry nose. A brooder. A bbq pairer. Dark dense bitey young berry fruit on the palate. Disguises itself as a malbec. Short finish. Extinguishes cleanly. Pairs very well with peppery salami and cran chevre.

Woodsy rose, clove and dark berry nose. A brooder. A bbq pairer. Dark dense bitey young berry fruit on the palate. Disguises itself as a malbec. Short finish. Extinguishes cleanly. Pairs very well with peppery salami and cran chevre.

Dec 17th, 2017
Colleen Crosby

Colleen had this 8 years ago

Colleen had this 8 years ago

1 person found it helpfulApr 12th, 2017
TwiLea Fletcher

05/04/21
We found one we haven’t had.... in that vintage year, to clarify.
So now.... Matt Warren.... we need to talk business.

05/04/21
We found one we haven’t had.... in that vintage year, to clarify.
So now.... Matt Warren.... we need to talk business.

May 4th, 2021
Dan Choi

프리즈너 와인 컴퍼니 와인 다운 부드러움. Melot임을 의심케 하는 매끄러운 목넘김이 일품. 탄닌이 아주 약간만 더 있었어도 좋겠지만 지금 이 자체로도 탄닌이 너무 강한걸 싫어하는 내 입맛에는 딱이다.

프리즈너 와인 컴퍼니 와인 다운 부드러움. Melot임을 의심케 하는 매끄러운 목넘김이 일품. 탄닌이 아주 약간만 더 있었어도 좋겠지만 지금 이 자체로도 탄닌이 너무 강한걸 싫어하는 내 입맛에는 딱이다.

Jul 21st, 2018
Octavian Darwin Tsen

Bought this as a surprise for my wife, but ended up as a harsh lesson about overoaking, extraction, and alcohol levels. Nose: vanilla, overripe plums, diluted țuica; palate: Cocoa, Blackberrry, firm but short tannins, stewed grape jam; finish is short and slightly smoky. Not fruit forward nor juicy, just heavy and sugar-laden: liked it better when it first decanted than later. If this is an indicator of what Prisoner Wine Co/Orin Swift is all about, then I will proceed with great caution. :(

Bought this as a surprise for my wife, but ended up as a harsh lesson about overoaking, extraction, and alcohol levels. Nose: vanilla, overripe plums, diluted țuica; palate: Cocoa, Blackberrry, firm but short tannins, stewed grape jam; finish is short and slightly smoky. Not fruit forward nor juicy, just heavy and sugar-laden: liked it better when it first decanted than later. If this is an indicator of what Prisoner Wine Co/Orin Swift is all about, then I will proceed with great caution. :(

Dec 26th, 2017
Kristen Berkos

This is a HUGE merlot. It has campfire on the nose, and then it has a jammy fruit forward taste with a long finish - very long for merlot. A favorite.

This is a HUGE merlot. It has campfire on the nose, and then it has a jammy fruit forward taste with a long finish - very long for merlot. A favorite.

Apr 30th, 2017
Juan Pablo Perez

Meh, un poco duro. ( V Suarez)

Meh, un poco duro. ( V Suarez)

Feb 25th, 2017
Chris Morgan

Sommelier The Oceanaire Seafood Room

8.9

Chris had this 9 years ago

Chris had this 9 years ago

Feb 14th, 2016
Edward Nelson

Edward had this a year ago

Edward had this a year ago

Sep 20th, 2023