2022 PlumpJack Merlot, Napa Valley California

The 2022 PlumpJack Merlot brings together fruit from two of Napa Valley’s cooler southern growing areas, Oak Knoll and Carneros, rather than relying on a single vineyard. That choice is important to the character of the wine: Oak Knoll, located along the western side of the valley near the Mayacamas, has a mild climate and alluvial soils that help provide structure, concentration and natural acidity, while the cooler Carneros fruit contributes an earthy, mineral dimension. The two regions performed particularly well during the warm 2022 growing season, allowing PlumpJack to maintain freshness in a vintage marked by significant heat. 

The wine comes from a producer with deep roots in Napa. PlumpJack Estate was established in Oakville in 1995, with the winery opening in 1997, and today the estate is part of a broader portfolio that includes CADE and Odette. Winemaker Aaron Miller, who has led PlumpJack's winemaking since 2012, brings experience from wineries including Pine Ridge, Lewis Cellars and Groth, as well as international experience in Italy and New Zealand. For this vintage, the Merlot is complemented by just 2% Malbec, adding dimension to the 98% Merlot core. The wine shows Bing cherry, raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry alongside dried herbs, floral notes, spice, cedar and pipe tobacco, with a silky, full-bodied palate, lively acidity and fine tannins. It finishes with mocha, espresso and baker's chocolate