Plumpjack

Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay

9.0166 ratings
8.926 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Chardonnay
Duck, Shellfish, Goose, Mushrooms, Manchego & Parmesan, Game, Pork, Squash & Root Vegetables, Chicken, Turkey, Cheddar & Gruyere, Meaty & Oily Fish, White Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Cream Sauces
Top Notes For
Austin Hohnke

Not super thoughtful. Tapered off quickly.
Rich in character and receipt.

Not super thoughtful. Tapered off quickly.
Rich in character and receipt.

Dec 23rd, 2023
Ron R
9.3

Have to work today, but Plumpy attenuates the pain. A clean, mineral-driven chard, which will sail on in the cellar for some time. Prior notes apply.

Have to work today, but Plumpy attenuates the pain. A clean, mineral-driven chard, which will sail on in the cellar for some time. Prior notes apply.

Oct 17th, 2020
Ron R
9.3

Very consistent. Mineral driven. Lithe with roasted nuts and relaxed acidity. Prior notes apply. We love this.

Very consistent. Mineral driven. Lithe with roasted nuts and relaxed acidity. Prior notes apply. We love this.

Oct 17th, 2020
Ron R
9.3

While we don’t often drink Plumpjack chard, we find it nothing but consistent. Notes of quince, pears on the nose, combined with green olives on the palate. Medium weight on the mid palate, leaning towards somewhat edgy. We are really enjoying this. Maybe we are biased, as we have a soft spot for this producer.

While we don’t often drink Plumpjack chard, we find it nothing but consistent. Notes of quince, pears on the nose, combined with green olives on the palate. Medium weight on the mid palate, leaning towards somewhat edgy. We are really enjoying this. Maybe we are biased, as we have a soft spot for this producer.

Sep 26th, 2020
Jake Hajer

Lean. Pomelo. Lime. Cotton. Without much fruit and complexity, the style/wine would be best aged.

Lean. Pomelo. Lime. Cotton. Without much fruit and complexity, the style/wine would be best aged.

Jul 28th, 2019
LM Segal

I ❤️ most everything P’jack, but this just wasn’t working for me. Fruit and acidity both overpowering but could calm down easily with time.

I ❤️ most everything P’jack, but this just wasn’t working for me. Fruit and acidity both overpowering but could calm down easily with time.

Jun 11th, 2019
Shay A
8.9

Finally getting around to posting Day 5 in Napa, our final day. 5 years in a row visiting...hope to make it 6 next year!

I expected this to be a big butter bomb but it was quite steely. Believe this is aged 70-80% stainless. I picked up banana bread, melon and cantaloupe, with roasted lemon and honeyed pineapple. Almost like a super viscous big SB.

Finally getting around to posting Day 5 in Napa, our final day. 5 years in a row visiting...hope to make it 6 next year!

I expected this to be a big butter bomb but it was quite steely. Believe this is aged 70-80% stainless. I picked up banana bread, melon and cantaloupe, with roasted lemon and honeyed pineapple. Almost like a super viscous big SB.

Feb 6th, 2019
Ron R
9.3

A nice cool, steely chard, with a precise structure. A touch of honeycomb on the nose, with lemon zest and a waxy component on the mid palate. Oak treatment is judicious.

A nice cool, steely chard, with a precise structure. A touch of honeycomb on the nose, with lemon zest and a waxy component on the mid palate. Oak treatment is judicious.

1 person found it helpfulFeb 28th, 2021
Ron R
9.3

Chocky soufflé made by my soul mate, Anne-Marie. Nothing is better than this, although the Plumpjack is rock solid. Prior notes apply.

Chocky soufflé made by my soul mate, Anne-Marie. Nothing is better than this, although the Plumpjack is rock solid. Prior notes apply.

1 person found it helpfulNov 15th, 2020
Shay A
9.2

Similar to the 2017, I expected this to be a big butter bomb (knowing the general Plumpjack style) but it was quite steely initially, before opening up and showing a touch more roundness from the scant use of oak. Believe this is aged 70-80% stainless. On both the nose and palate, I picked up banana bread, melon and cantaloupe, with roasted lemon and honeyed pineapple toward the finish. It goes back and forth between coming across as a super viscous SB, and a lighter/mineral Napa Chardonnay (though not as flabby as some Napa chards can be).

I found this to be a step up from the 2017, and is definitely best enjoyed right above cellar temp. My thanks to my friend
@Ron R for his generosity in sending this after hearing of my less than stellar experience with their 2017.

Similar to the 2017, I expected this to be a big butter bomb (knowing the general Plumpjack style) but it was quite steely initially, before opening up and showing a touch more roundness from the scant use of oak. Believe this is aged 70-80% stainless. On both the nose and palate, I picked up banana bread, melon and cantaloupe, with roasted lemon and honeyed pineapple toward the finish. It goes back and forth between coming across as a super viscous SB, and a lighter/mineral Napa Chardonnay (though not as flabby as some Napa chards can be).

I found this to be a step up from the 2017, and is definitely best enjoyed right above cellar temp. My thanks to my friend
@Ron R for his generosity in sending this after hearing of my less than stellar experience with their 2017.

1 person found it helpfulNov 12th, 2020