Winemaker Notes
Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A selection of the estate's best lots and barrels, Plumpjack's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spent 19 months in 93% new French oak, yet it seems brighter and fresher than the regular bottling. Cassis leads the way, accented by vanilla and streusel highlights, while the full-bodied palate is expansive, supple and creamy textured, then long and silky on the finish. It's a really strong effort, with ample richness yet no excess weight and a flowing, elegant feel on the palate.
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James Suckling
Brooding and deeply perfumed, with aromas of blackberries, mocha, graphite and cured meat. The palate is full-bodied and complex, with seamlessly integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of blood plums, red toffee apples, licorice and spices. A poised and refined wine. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Checking in as 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve does well in the vintage and has a plump, medium to full-bodied, broad, expansive style with tons to love. Cassis, spicy wood, flowery incense, and sweet tobacco all define the aromatics, and it's nicely balanced, with velvety tannins and a good sense of freshness. It has the vintage's sunny, open-knit, expressive style, yet I see no reason it shouldn't evolve gracefully over the coming 15+ years. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days and it held up beautifully.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.