Irony in a bottle

::: The Prisoner, Orin Swift Cellars, 2006 Napa Valley Red wine, $31.95, #17 in best wines of 2007 as ranked by Wine Spectator :::

I thought my next post would definitely be a white wine since spring is finally upon Washington, D.C. but tonight is a cool, rainy evening that seems perfect for The Prisoner.

You would think "prisoner in a bottle" would be an easy title for this one, but I just can't bring myself to wing it that way. I suppose you could say the wine is just waiting to "break away"-- i.e. to unleash its power and flavor-- as it does, but to me it's more than that. To me, it's not a prisoner at all. It's so intense, flavorful and complex that it seems free... full of vitality and energy. It's fruity and full of berry flavors, but has quite a kick all the same (spice, citrus, just a hint of tannin). It's full-bodied with a rich, dark red color. It's a fun mix of different grape varietals, yet has a very specific and balanced taste.

I also found (when looking up the price, bc this wine was a gift-- merci, Diane!) that this wine is a vintage. I didn't know what that meant, and this is what Wikipedia tells us: "A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. " In some cases this means higher quality. Anyway, just thought I'd share, since we're all learning :)

But back to the point. Perhaps the wine really isn't free, after all. Why is it named The Prisoner? Perhaps it's like the Macy Gray song says: "I may appear to be free / But I'm just a prisoner of your love." Perhaps it's like me.