2023 PlumpJack 'Reserve' Chardonnay Napa Valley
The cool vintage preserved the brighter, fresher, more delicate aromatics of the Chardonnay grape and retained a vibrant, mouth-watering acidity, allowing us to craft a Chardonnay of great complexity, purity, and precision. The nose opens with notes of lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple, and wet stone. This is layered with rich yet delicate aromas of cantaloupe, honeydew, nectarine, and honeysuckle aromas. The oak in the wine just slightly shows through with a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, adding depth to the nose. The palate is rich and round with bright and lively acidity, which, together, leave the impression of a tangy, creamy lemon custard. The acidity pulls the wine to the back of the palate, giving it great length, energy, and life.
If we were to pick just one Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to blast into interstellar space for aliens to try when they stumble upon it someday, that wine would be Plumpjack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville. In our view it is the most flavor-packed, complex, complete bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that you can buy, in pretty much every vintage. Plumpjack is in one posh neighborhood, with Screaming Eagle, Rudd, Bond St. Eden, and Dalla Valle all nearby. This is Oakville’s (and the Valley’s) absolute sweet spot, near the crossroads of Oakville Cross and Silverado Trail. Their Cabernets are absolutely spectacular, stuffed to the gills with ripe cherry fruit and red rose perfume—and very fairly priced compared to the neighbors.