Composed o Zinfandel with Syrah, Petite Sirah and Grenache, the 2018 Red Blend 8 Years in the Desert was aged for eight months in American oak barrels (37% new). Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes roaring out of the glass with notions of baked black cherries, raspberry preserves, blueberry tart and potpourri plus hints of garrigue, tobacco leaf and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, the richly fruited palate has a pleasantly chewy texture and loads of savory layers coming through on the finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

When Dave Phinney sold the Prisonner in 2008, he signed an eight year non-compete agreement whereby he agreed to not produce any Zinfandel-based wines. “Eight Years in the Desert” is his aptly-named return to the varietal that made him famous. The 2017 release is the second production of this wine, and it is nearly black in the glass with a pronounced purple rim. On the nose, it is a knock out punch of baked blackberries and black cherries, expresso, baking chocolate, wild flowers and tar with a hint of vanilla. The palate is just as impressive, luxurious and opulent with decadent black fruit opening the front palate before the more nuanced aspects of the wine fill out the mouth. The tannins are already well integrated and the finish is driven by an understated acidic spine that allows the fruit to shine till the very end. Pair this is all sorts of Texas BBQ or get creative with some Chinese food that uses plum sauce. Peking duck, anyone? Eight Years is gorgeous now but has the right stuff to get better over 6-8 years.