Plumpjack

PlumpJack has spent three decades running on a productive contradiction: an irreverent streak paired with real reverence for the land. The name comes from Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff, and the winery was the one that pioneered screw caps for luxury wine, a decision that caused genuine outrage at the time and has aged well.

The estate dates to 1881 and sits on 42 acres in the heart of Oakville, showing what Napa Valley looked like before the current era of architecture. Cabernet Sauvignon leads, with Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Viognier alongside, all estate-grown. Michael scores the wine an 8. It belongs on a Napa Cabernet route for anyone who wants Oakville fruit without the theatre.