Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty established PlumpJack Winery in 1995, inspired by one of Shakespeare's most memorable characters, Sir John "PlumpJack" Falstaff. His down-to-earth, fun-loving, irreverent nature is rivaled only by his fierce loyalty to Prince Hal, with whom he shares more than a few goblets of wine at the local tavern. PlumpJack Winery appreciates this hearty fellow's priorities. They pay allegiance to their world-class vineyard by crafting wines of the highest quality, and they celebrate the convivial spirit of their namesake with their inviting, approachable style. Even their tasting room encourages camaraderie, with doors wide open to longtime wine lovers and new enthusiasts alike.
PlumpJack Winery sits squarely in the heart of Napa Valley's renowned Oakville region, surrounded by a 42-acre estate vineyard highly regarded for the quality of its Cabernet Sauvignon. Both the winery building and vineyard date back to the 1800s, which is when winemaking pioneers first took advantage of a unique position on the valley floor. The east side of the vineyard lies along the foothills of the Vaca mountain range and yields grapes with the kind of bold fruit character that comes from well-draining hillside soils. To the west, the estate lies in the Napa River floor zone, allowing vines to take root in rich, deep clay soils to produce grapes with softer, suppler varietal character. From the oldest, rockiest section – the "I" Block that sources Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – to more recent plantings, PlumpJack strives to maintain balanced vines. Thanks to the full, expressive range of the estate, the resulting wines have become known for their intriguing complexity.
From 1973 to 1995, proprietors James and Anne McWilliams brought the estate vineyard to prominence with the dynamic, long-lived wines of Villa Mt. Eden Winery. PlumpJack is proud to carry on their fine heritage. Today, winemaker Aaron Miller and his team create the full-bodied, elegant wines that have earned the winery high critical acclaim. For each wine, he selects methods that allow our vineyards to shine through. He monitors vines for peak ripeness, chooses fermentation in oak or stainless steel, and ages the wines in a variety of oak barrels from distinctive cooperages.
43b
California » Oakville
Winery Notes Our Chardonnay grapes are sourced from two vineyards in the Napa Valley – one in Los Carneros and the other in St. Helena. The
Wine Advocate 95 "From the Oakville estate of Plumpjack (the former Villa Mt. Eden Vineyard made famous by Nils Venge, whom I believe is still a
Wine Advocate 94 "A gorgeous core of juicy red fruit announces the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2010 stands out for its expressive, supple personality. There is
" The 2011 PlumpJack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and lively with its expressive fruit and layered notes of dried red fruits, vanilla, cinnamon, sage
Wine Advocate 96 “The highlight among these new releases, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is stunningly beautiful…Fleshy and gorgeous, the 2010 stands out for its gorgeous
" The 2014 PlumpJack Reserve Chardonnay is a fantastic Napa Chardonnay. Aromas of white peaches, pear, orange blossom and warm apple pie filling are followed
Robert Parker 95 "From the Oakville estate of Plumpjack (the former Villa Mt. Eden Vineyard made famous by Nils Venge, whom I believe is still a
Wine Advocate 93 " The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Oakville is from the well-known McWilliam Oakville Vineyard, made famous by Nils Venge when he made wine
Wine Advocate 94 "A gorgeous core of juicy red fruit announces the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2010 stands out for its expressive, supple personality. There is
Wine Advocate 94 "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful wine. Freshly cut flowers, dark red berries, mint and crushed rocks are some of the nuances
" Plumpjack sources their Reserve Chardonnay from two Napa vineyards: one in Carneros and the other in St. Helena. One third of the wine is
Wine Advocate 96 "The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Oakville is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot aged in 80% new French oak.
Wine Spectator 92 "Dense, rich and concentrated, with a chewy core of ripe currant and blackberry fruit that teeters on syrupy. Finishes with chewy tannins and
Wine Spectator 92 A sleek, rich and beautifully balanced wine that combines layers of plush currant, black cherry and plum-laced Cabernet fruit with touches of earth,
Robert Parker 94-92 "The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a 6,250-case cuvee that tips the scales at 14.9% alcohol.The 2003 boasts full body as well as
Wine Spectator 93 "Beautifully crafted, rich and focused, with polished currant, black cherry and blackberry flavors, shaded by toasty, smoky oak notes that give this flavor
Wine Advocate 91 "Dense purple, with loads of charcoal and barbecue notes as well as smoke, meat, black cherries and plums, the concentrated 2008 Merlot
Wine Advocate 88 "The 2009 Syrah comes across as big, rich and powerful. There is good depth, dark red fruit, smoke, licorice and earthiness, yet a
Robert Parker 91 "The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (5,800 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has closed down since last year, but with additional time, it should
"Since 2008 we feel that our Chardonnay style has really become a hit with our customers. With that being said it is always amazing to me
Robert Parker 94+ "The backward 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Estate (390 cases) reminds me of a hypothetical blend of a top Pauillac and Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.
Robert Parker 91 "The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (5,800 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has closed down since last year, but with additional time, it should
Robert Parker 92 "The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a full-bodied, chewy effort displaying copious aromas of lead pencil shavings, black currants, blueberries, licorice, charcoal, and
