2013 Syrah

Aaron Miller has done a terrific job with these wines from Plumpjack. As a reminder, only the Cabernets emerge from the estate vineyard, the other wines in this range are all made from purchased fruit, so the lineup encompasses a handful of appellations. As always, the Plumpjack wines are opulent and textured. The 2013s look like they will drink well with minimal cellaring, but also have the depth to age, while the 2014s are shaping up to be quite strong. In 2013, Miller took the wines off the skins early in order to avoid over-extracting the wines, which was the exact opposite of 2014, a vintage in which the wines needed to spend a bit more time in order to fully extract. Those are but details, though. These wines all speak to balance and harmony. Plumpjack fans will find much to admire.

I can't say enough good things about what a great job Aaron Miller has done at Plumpjack since taking over from Tony Biagi in 2012. These wines haven't missed a beat. The 2012s are fabulous, while the 2013s may turn out to be even better. This is one of the most privileged spots in Napa Valley, and it shows in rich wines of uncommon elegance and pure Napa Valley intensity. The straight Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of all the best parcels on the property, while the Reserve emerges from volcanic soils on the eastern side of the property that yield wines of greater intensity and structure. Plumpjack's Merlot and Syrah are made from purchased fruit, but they are just as delicious as the estate wines. The 2012s are rich and opulent in the best sense, while the 2013s are darker, but not as tannic as they are at so many other estates. In 2013, Miller chose to shorten skin contact a bit, as the wines extracted very easily and he wanted to avoid ending up with massive tannins and oversized wines. It appears that choice worked quite well.