Plumpjack Merlot Napa Valley 2021 750ml

PlumpJack Winery was founded in Oakville in 1995 by Gordon Getty and Gavin Newsom, and alongside its celebrated Cabernet it produces a polished Napa Valley Merlot. The 2021 draws on two sites, in Oak Knoll and Carneros, with a touch of Malbec in the blend. A dry, low-yielding 2021 season gave small berries and concentrated, beautifully balanced wines across Napa. Expect juicy blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, mulberry and plum preserves with clove, star anise, chocolate and floral notes. The palate is full-bodied, rich and velvety, with ripe tannins and a spicy finish. Jeb Dunnuck praised its "beautifully perfumed, complex" style. Enjoy now or cellar into the mid-2030s.