2014 Syrah

Aaron Miller has done a terrific job in coaxing the best out of the 2014 and 2015 vintages. The 2014s are every bit as impressive as they were from barrel, with notable aromatic presence and nuance. A much more flamboyant style emerges from the 2015s, wines that capture all of the opulence of the year. As always, the Merlot and Syrah are made from purchased fruit, while the two Cabernets are both estate wines. The flagship Reserve typically emerges from the front blocks on the estate closest to the Silverado Trail.

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.