Plumpjack is greatness...plain and simple. Begun in 1973 by proprietors James and Anne McWilliams, the vineyard and winery rapidly gained attention for producing dynamic, long-lived wines, with particular emphasis on the estate and reserve Cabernet Sauvignons. Their Oakville vineyard has a wide diversity of soils reflective of its special position at the base of the Vaca Range, making it a unique marriage of a hillside vineyard and a classic valley floor site. But we would not do the winery justice if we did not mention their incredible Chardonnay. Where many California Chardonnays are aged in 100% new barrels and go through secondary fermentation, Plumpjack ferments 65% of their Chardonnay in stainless steel, and this portion of the wine does not go through the secondary fermentation. What you get is a wine so layered and complex that it can take some time to unpack.