2019 PlumpJack Merlot Napa Valley
Savory spices like sage, clove, and nutmeg swirl around blackberry, blueberry, and dark cherry. Perfect balance and sweet tannins complete the picture in this remarkable example of both region and vintage. It’s no surprise that this big wine has snagged this big score. What a perfect pairing for a nice, plump burger by the grill.
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.
Jeb Dunnuck
A beautiful Merlot, the 2019 from PlumpJack offers everything you could want from this variety with its plump, fleshy, medium to full-bodied profile as well as terrific aromatics of black cherries, darker berries, leafy herbs, spring flowers, and a touch of chocolate. It’s ready to go yet should continue delivering the goods over the coming decade
Wine Advocate
The 2019 Merlot is a blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with herbal wafts over a core of stewed plums and boysenberries, with hints of charcoal, licorice and potpourri. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and juicy with bags of black fruit flavors and an aniseed kick on the finish.