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This one has been a long time coming! Believe it or not, this was a runner up in our first Subscriber Poll waaaaaaay back when. (Eek.)
We covered the actual winner of that poll last year, but decided to get to this Rick James autobiogrpahy at some point. Took longer than expected, but here we are!
When James (Super Freak, You & I, Fire and Desire) passed away in 2004, an autobiography was rushed out to the public. But biographer David Ritz was never satisfied with that edition, and many years later releaed this definitivie edition, GLOW: The Autobiography of Rick James.
Cobbled together from numerous letters and diary entries that James had written in prison and after, mixed with stories told by Ritz in James' voice, GLOW tells the story of an impulsive musical prodigy who witnessed the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
We also listened to the entirety of James' discography while reading this book, and paired wines we think are perfect to match the book AND James' music!
Rick was a figure who struggled with addiction and sobriety his entire life. We make a personal plea in the final moments, addresing these struggles and what we as voices within the wine world must do to be honest, empathetic guides.
The Wines!
Las Jaras 2024 Slipper Sipper Nouveau
49% Zinfandel | 33% Carignan | 16% Petite Sirah | 7% Vermentino
La Jaras is the brainchild of comedians Joel Burt and Eric Wareheim (if you’ve ever seen the documentary BLOOD INTO WINE, they’re the two constantly giving shit to the subject of that doc, Tool frontman James Keenan.) Farmed organically, with Old Vines in Lodi (except for the Vermentino.) Carbonic maceration keeps the wine light and fresh and chillable. Low itervention / “natural” winemaking keeps it funky and punky. Perfect for the King of Funk Punk!
2022 The Prisoner Red Blend
Zinfandel with the unlikely mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Charbono. A funky blend of black grapes, sweet, bold, and silky. And on point to pair with a musician who found himself in and out of the American incarceration system.
Founded by winemaker Dan Phinney in 2000 and sold to Constellatino Brands in 2019, though word on the street is that Constellation is looking to sell its entire wine portfolio this year, with its Napa brands, like The Prisoner, likely going to a group like Duckhorn, we shall see. All of this is unconfirmed at this time (but "very likely" as no one is contesting the reporting, either!)
The Prisoner faced minor controversy in 2021 for purportedly fetishizing incarceration on its wine label and other marketing efforts, the company decided against changing the brand’s aesthetic.
The imagery on its wine labels is a key aspect of what makes the wine stand out on store shelves. It’s also what helped The Prisoner become the bestselling domestic red blend over $25 for the past decade.
Based on a series of three etchings by Spanish artist Francisco de Goya, The Prisoner’s flagship label depicts a dark, shadowed man bound by shackles. Created in the 19th century, the art is believed to represent the violence and inhumanity used against prisoners during numerous Spanish wars.
When Napa winemaker Dave Phinney launched The Prisoner in 2000, it was this arresting image — one he received as an art print at age 13 — that came to symbolize the brand.
Angela Knotts, brand director at The Prisoner said:
“As an art-focused brand, we’ve always believed that art has the power to raise awareness and promote dialogue around difficult conversations. If we can use art to talk about something as important as mass incarceration — something the wine industry doesn’t talk about — and create a platform for advocacy, that’s something we’re committed to doing.
“After the killing of George Floyd, I think a lot of brands began think about how they show up in the world, and as a brand called The Prisoner, we felt compelled to use art as a way to talk about things that are difficult,” said Knotts. “ But we didn’t just want to talk about them — we wanted to walk the walk and invest in some of the issues we’re talking about.”
That year, the company made a $1 million contribution to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit committed to ending mass incarceration and racial disparity. It also committed to investing $100 million, over 10 years, in Black and minority-owned businesses within the alcohol beverage industry.
Rich, bold, bramble fruit, black licorice, smoke, ash, (tar?) And the silkiest tannins I’ve ever tasted - I did not know what that phrase MEANT until I tasted this!!!
15.2% abv, this is sweet and sexy, just like Rick James himself. The sweetness hits first, then backs off to reveal smoke and earth and tannin.
Aged in a blend of American and Franch oak, 30% New.
3% of every bottle sold online is donated to a rotating nonprofit supporting prison reform and individuals impacted by the carceral system, currently, The Center for Art & Advocacy.
The Center is committed to prioritizing our formerly incarcerated artists as they develop their skills, innovate within their fields, and take on new leadership roles. We look to affirm their value and voice by creating a meaningful space where they can continue growing and thriving.
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