Plumpjack
Estate Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA
A friend had a “reduction party” as he was needing to thin out his cellar. Definitely a party I’m happy to attend!
This is the oldest Plumpjack I’ve had and I’m pleasantly surprised by how well this has held up. With their unabashed and decadent style, these always drink great young but this opens my eyes to how nice they can be when the heat dies off. Silky and rich. Fondue dipped red, blue and black fruits, currant, toasted oak, baking spice and ginger bread aromatics. Plush and hedonistic like at first sip, the fruit is still center stage with additional notes of menthol, brown sugar and bacon fat. Flavor bomb that stays away from the flabby and singular style.
A friend had a “reduction party” as he was needing to thin out his cellar. Definitely a party I’m happy to attend!
This is the oldest Plumpjack I’ve had and I’m pleasantly surprised by how well this has held up. With their unabashed and decadent style, these always drink great young but this opens my eyes to how nice they can be when the heat dies off. Silky and rich. Fondue dipped red, blue and black fruits, currant, toasted oak, baking spice and ginger bread aromatics. Plush and hedonistic like at first sip, the fruit is still center stage with additional notes of menthol, brown sugar and bacon fat. Flavor bomb that stays away from the flabby and singular style.
En mag - delicious - big wine creates big smiles
En mag - delicious - big wine creates big smiles
Jan 2nd, 2020November’s 4th Friday was a big hit. There is no way I’ll be able to upload all the wines, nor give them the reviews they deserve, but there were a few worthy of mentioning!
Yes, I had to do a double take when I saw the vintage...2017! And it’s drinking like it’s open for business. Similar to the Moone-Tsai it was next to, but everything turned up to 11. Aromatics of triple fudge dipped blueberries and blackberries. Currant and Mexican vanilla too. On the palate, dense and rich. An absolute flavor bomb of baked plums, cinnamon, espresso beans and nutmeg. Maybe this is in a youthful just released phase before shutting down to gain some complexity...
November’s 4th Friday was a big hit. There is no way I’ll be able to upload all the wines, nor give them the reviews they deserve, but there were a few worthy of mentioning!
Yes, I had to do a double take when I saw the vintage...2017! And it’s drinking like it’s open for business. Similar to the Moone-Tsai it was next to, but everything turned up to 11. Aromatics of triple fudge dipped blueberries and blackberries. Currant and Mexican vanilla too. On the palate, dense and rich. An absolute flavor bomb of baked plums, cinnamon, espresso beans and nutmeg. Maybe this is in a youthful just released phase before shutting down to gain some complexity...
A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.
This is full blown fruit forward Napa Cab. It just oozes of blackberries, blueberries, mixed berry pie and Mexican vanilla on the nose with juicy and rich tannins. Liqueur and velvet like. Sweet smoke too. Didn’t pick up much savory or secondary notes here. I guessed young vintage, high ABV (15.5%!) Napa Cab.
A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.
This is full blown fruit forward Napa Cab. It just oozes of blackberries, blueberries, mixed berry pie and Mexican vanilla on the nose with juicy and rich tannins. Liqueur and velvet like. Sweet smoke too. Didn’t pick up much savory or secondary notes here. I guessed young vintage, high ABV (15.5%!) Napa Cab.
This is drinking beautifully young. It’s round and juicy. It’s dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum skin, dry powdery tannins, dark chocolate, coco powder, layered baking spices, dark spice w/ some heat with dark florals & lavender. Nice acidity and polished.
Photo of Andrew the Assistant Winemaker of Odette featured to the left.
This is drinking beautifully young. It’s round and juicy. It’s dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum skin, dry powdery tannins, dark chocolate, coco powder, layered baking spices, dark spice w/ some heat with dark florals & lavender. Nice acidity and polished.
Photo of Andrew the Assistant Winemaker of Odette featured to the left.
A ridiculously smooth and rich Napa Cab, literally oozing tobacco and dark chocolate, cedar and tarry earth. Beautifully round, hiding its alcohol, finishing delightfully long with charred cherry oak. Miles to go, but no reason to wait.
A ridiculously smooth and rich Napa Cab, literally oozing tobacco and dark chocolate, cedar and tarry earth. Beautifully round, hiding its alcohol, finishing delightfully long with charred cherry oak. Miles to go, but no reason to wait.
Nov 10th, 2018
Forgive me for not color coordinating correctly (say those last three words quickly ten times - ha) but that is what happens when two great friends get together for a dinner with wives to celebrate birthdays and we are left to our own decisions so our wives are definitely needed to dress us - man is that picture busy except for the wine
Rick brought a treat - 2007 treat - we only decanted for 40 minutes - when first opening I was worried - it was lacking any smell but it was a terrible restaurant decanter (love the food and atmosphere but not a wine heavy place)
We drank (more line devoured) the first wine (Dyer) while patiently waiting for this bad boy to wake up- when it did - wow 😲- I had a @David L expression experience happen - “I don’t like - I LOVE IT”
So the wine and this vintage and this bottle for me was opulent and silky - it opened so progressively in the glass - like a Lexus LC 500 speed demon (sorry but I do have some preoccupation with this car) - color was a daaaaaark deeeeep puuuuurple (deep purple was a great band but I degress) - smell was full of vanilla and spices and amazingly was very ripe and was made in a flamboyant cult style - It soaked my mouth with melted blackberries, cherries, raspberries, cocoa and sweet oaky favors - the rush from the taste came from the silky tannins which were rich and refined - now it was also really dry - but overall I am totally impressed and the finish was medium long
Word to the wise - in my humble opinion this bad boy needs to be experienced sooner than later - still ripe but the smell is going fast - crazy to say this but the 06s have years left but my 07s are fully matured - Drink up and definitely smile .
Forgive me for not color coordinating correctly (say those last three words quickly ten times - ha) but that is what happens when two great friends get together for a dinner with wives to celebrate birthdays and we are left to our own decisions so our wives are definitely needed to dress us - man is that picture busy except for the wine
Rick brought a treat - 2007 treat - we only decanted for 40 minutes - when first opening I was worried - it was lacking any smell but it was a terrible restaurant decanter (love the food and atmosphere but not a wine heavy place)
We drank (more line devoured) the first wine (Dyer) while patiently waiting for this bad boy to wake up- when it did - wow 😲- I had a @David L expression experience happen - “I don’t like - I LOVE IT”
So the wine and this vintage and this bottle for me was opulent and silky - it opened so progressively in the glass - like a Lexus LC 500 speed demon (sorry but I do have some preoccupation with this car) - color was a daaaaaark deeeeep puuuuurple (deep purple was a great band but I degress) - smell was full of vanilla and spices and amazingly was very ripe and was made in a flamboyant cult style - It soaked my mouth with melted blackberries, cherries, raspberries, cocoa and sweet oaky favors - the rush from the taste came from the silky tannins which were rich and refined - now it was also really dry - but overall I am totally impressed and the finish was medium long
Word to the wise - in my humble opinion this bad boy needs to be experienced sooner than later - still ripe but the smell is going fast - crazy to say this but the 06s have years left but my 07s are fully matured - Drink up and definitely smile .