Plumpjack and Cade Winery dinner at Cafe Maxx

"the road to great wine is littered with beer bottles" -Unknown

This is a dinner that I could not resist putting on the schedule on short notice.  How often do we get to show the wines from one of Napa Valley's elite "Cult Producers" along with Chef Oliver's cuisine at Cafe Maxx for less than the price of a single bottle of one of the selections here tonight. 

That's right folks we will be serving seven wines from Plumpjack including some new wines from their new Howell Mountain property Cade.  Plumpjack hit the ground running with their very first wine the 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon scoring (95 Points) from the Wine Advocate,  The rest is history and for several years our allocation of this wine was 1 case per year! 

Well the recession has been good for one thing- now we can get more Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon!  And we can offer you our wine drinking people a chance to experience these wines for an incredible price- but wait there is more...  Chef Oliver Saucy will be serving a six course meal to accompany the wines for only $125 per person + tax.  We only have room for 25 people in the back room at Cafe Maxx so if you want to attend this event, don't walk run to the phone and call us at 954-523-9463.

Plumpjack and Cade Winery dinner at Cafe Maxx
Wednesday, October 27th
7pm

Pass arounds

Mahi-mahi with sea salt and grapefruit
Melon and prosciutto crostini with double cream brie
Bell and Evans chicken in citrus crust
Conch salsa fresco

Cade Sauvignon Blanc Napa 2009
Price: $25.25 Sale $22.22 Case $258

In 2009 they worked with 10 small growers (8 for Sauvignon Blanc, 2 for Semillon and 1 for Viognier). Over 53% of the fruit came from Oakville, 18% from Rutherford, 15% from Oak Knoll, 10% Yountville and 6% from Napa Valley.

The one word we would use to describe the 2009 CADE Sauvignon Blanc would be vivacious!! Wonderful aromas of spearmint, guava, kiwi, gooseberry and snow pea are followed on the palate with flavors of concentrated lemon/lime mix, fig and guava. The lees give the wine nice weight in the mouth. The large influence of our Estate vineyard in Oakville (26.5%) has really brought a wonderful complexity and depth of flavors to this wine.

First course

Florida hog snapper with Granny Smith apple and watercress slaw chardonnay vanilla butter and Quinoa

Plumjack Chardonnay Reserve 2009
Price: $47.50 Sale $41.80 Case $485

Second course

Grilled sausage and Portobello mushroom lasagna with roasted garlic-basil ricotta and plum tomato sauce

Plumjack Merlot Napa 2008
Price: $66.50 Sale $58.52 Case $678

As in years past the main source for the PlumpJack Merlot is Beckstoffer’s Orchard Ave. in the Oak Knoll appellation (83%). The Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (1%) are primarily from Kenefick Ranch in Calistoga. The Petit Verdot (2%) is from Beckstoffer’s Melrose vineyard in Rutherford and the Malbec (1%) is from Garvey Estate in the eastern foothills of Rutherford.

A staple of the PlumpJack Winery portfolio of wines, the 2008 PlumpJack Merlot balances strength and finesse. A drought year combined with an early season frost led to a diminished crop where the grapes had to struggle to mature, thus producing very small berries and in turn intense age worthy wines. We were fortunate enough to produce 2,137 cases given the limited crop. This year’s Merlot is blended from 4 unique Napa Valley Vineyards and is comprised of all 5 Bordeaux varietals (83% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec).

Restrained elegance is a way to describe the 2008 PlumpJack Merlot. Primary aromas of baked plums, cardamom, mulling spices and blackberry are followed by secondary aromas of chocolate, vanilla beans and warm fudge. In the mouth, primary flavors of berry cobbler, plums and cocoa are followed by secondary flavors of herbs de provance, cedar and cigar smoke. Firmer with broader shoulders at this point than the 2007, the 2008 Merlot will benefit from a 2-3 hour decant if enjoyed in its youth but will age wonderfully if cellared for 3-5 years

Third course

Crispy duck confit with Mole sauce, stone ground grits and roasted corn

Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Napa 2007
Price: $67.50 Sale $59.40 Case $689

(91-93 Points) The 2007 Napa Cuvee is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc from the above mentioned vineyard sites with the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Kenefick Ranch. This 3,000-case offering displays a dense opaque ruby/purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of blue and blackberries, crushed rocks, acacia flowers, and a hint of oak in the background. Medium to full-bodied with good ripeness, sweet, melted tannins, and a long finish, it should drink well for 12-15+ years.  Wine Advocate # 180 Dec 2008

Cade Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Price: $71 Sale $62.48 Case $724

(90+ Points) The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, a blend of estate and non-estate fruit (from mountain vineyards such Ink Grade, Outpost, True, and Pestoni), is closed at present, but it appears to be loaded with potential. Abundant notes of cassis, black raspberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with notions of chocolate, cocoa, and bay leaf are followed by a structured, tannic, medium to full-bodied wine that needs some time in the bottle. Give this well-built, masculine Cabernet Sauvignon 4-5 years of cellaring, and consume it over the following two decades.  Wine Advocate # 186, Dec 2009

Fourth course

Dry aged NY strip with roasted root vegetables and red wine sauce

Cade Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Price: $139.50 Sale $122.76 Case $1423

(95 Points) Absolutely sensational, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Howell Mountain is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. It reveals a strikingly provocative aromatic display of blue and black fruits, crushed rocks, violets, and a hint of chocolate. This full-bodied, dense, classic mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is built for long-term aging. Its opaque purple color, awesome concentration and texture, and foreboding personality suggest 5-6 years of bottle age is warranted. It should drink well over the following 30+ years.  Wine Advocate # 186 Dec 2009

Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Price: $89.25 Sale $78.54 Case $910

(95 Points) The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee from Plumpjack’s Oakville ranch, where Nils Venge once made the famed Cabernet Sauvignons under the Villa Mt. Eden label. (The 1974s and 1978s are still going strong.) Floral notes intermixed with creme de cassis, white chocolate, plum, and licorice characteristics are followed by a wine with supple tannins, fabulous concentration, a multilayered mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts 40+ seconds. This incredible Cabernet can be drunk now or cellared for 20-25 years.  Winemaker Tony Biagia continues to fashion prodigious wines for both the Getty family and its partner, San Francisco’s mayor, Gavin Newsom. The 2007s are the most impressive group of wines Plumpjack has released to date.  Wine Advocate # 186, Dec 2009

Dessert

Chocolate & sun dried currant terrine with warm cassis scented bittersweet chocolate sauce

Kristina Doxon is the East Coast Sales Manager will be here to present the wines.

The fee for this dinner is $125 per person + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463

A bit about Plumpjack:

All fourteen of the PlumpJack business enterprises thrive on the unique philosophy of the company's "core ideology," designed to initiate the roguish spirit of Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff (Henry IV), dubbed Plump Jack by Queen Elizabeth-hence the company name. Closer to home, San Francisco composer and philanthropist, Gordon Getty, wrote an opera he called "Plump Jack." The fun-loving and irreverent spirit of PlumpJack clearly excited the sensibilities of Gordon's close friend and business associate, Gavin Newsom.

PlumpJack was founded by Gavin Newsom, whose personality is revealed in response to an expression of concern upon his first appointment to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1997. When asked if he was likely to "generate controversy" he replied, "If I don't, I'm not doing my job." A self-described fiscal moderate, when it comes to business decisions, Newsom exults in setting high goals for himself and his staff. Just a few of his exuberant demands for PlumpJack are to "out-innovate the competition," make the company an "excellence machine," and "live life out loud." To ensure fulfillment of his mission he makes a point of investing in "hot talent"-people who, whether they are sweeping floors, making wine, or designing interior spaces, are creating "magical moments" for PlumpJack customers.

These ideologies are carried out and implemented in the day-to-day operations of the fourteen businesses under the PlumpJack Group umbrella and guide the management team and the staff to constantly strive for excellence, value, accessibility and nothing less than heroic customer service.

A key marker of success for the company is their ability to invest a portion of PlumpJack's profits back into the community. Committed to numerous environmental, charitable, social and civic causes, PlumpJack often challenges their businesses to raise funds and promote many worthy organizations in the community.

The design firm of Leavitt-Weaver has captured Shakespeare's times and Falstaff's spirit in a number of ways. The jaunty shield that serves as the PlumpJack insignia, the muted earthen greens and taupes that hark back to earlier centuries, and their lavish use of metals create a superb combination of form, function and style. Since the company's inception, the management has insisted that the carefully selected wine lists at all of the properties be accessible to a broad spectrum of buyers-novices and sophisticates alike-and all bottles are priced close to retail.

PlumpJack Wines on Fillmore, the inaugural PlumpJack business founded in 1992 in the historic Cow Hollow district of San Francisco, added a second location across town in Noe Valley in 2001. Acquiring a liquor store in operation since prohibition, as well as a neighborhood institution, the PlumpJack and Leavitt-Weaver partnership carefully revived the space, blending nostalgic elements and retaining many of the store's features. Using a color palette inspired from the arts and crafts period, as seen on many of the City's landmark Victorians, they strived to keep the ambiance and energy of the neighborhood. Continuing the exceptional wine pricing and selection has ensured a new segment of loyal PlumpJack followers.

Their Fillmore Street restaurant, Balboa Cafe, is a major presence in the area. Jose Lemus, executive chef at Balboa Cafe, has created enticing dishes for the gourmet palate and has elaborated the Balboa's traditional menu with a few elegant additions, wisely leaving long-time favorites like the Balboa Burger on the menu.

The interior of the venerable Balboa Cafe, which first opened its doors in 1913, has maintained the feel and look of the original décor of the past eight decades. If the Balboa's long, handsome mahogany bar in San Francisco, with its traditional brass foot rail could talk, one can only imagine the tales it would tell about the legions of "beautiful women and thirsty men" who have lingered there late into the evening.

With the restaurant and the wine shop thriving, PlumpJack affixed its sword and shield to the Squaw Valley Inn on Lake Tahoe's north shore. Originally built to house the 1960 Winter Olympic delegation, the 61-room inn is now a masterpiece of comfort, design and exceptional service.

Among Leavitt-Weaver's signature design elements for the world of PlumpJack is the dramatic wood, copper and brass bar in the lounge. A copper cauldron mounted in the center of a large, square pedestal, filled with crafted metal pieces, serves as the fireplace. More than simply a decorative touch, this centerpiece creates warmth that permeates the atmosphere throughout. The playful array of copper-forged wall coverings accentuates the Inn's original stone and glass structure.

Guest services are sophisticated and personalized, and with the beauty of its décor and amenities on the scale of a grand hotel, the Inn's clientele of vacationers, business travelers and wedding parties will want for nothing. Floor to ceiling windows of the 6,000 square foot, two-story conference facility frame the majestic scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The next acquisition was a century-old Napa Valley vineyard property, renowned for producing Cabernets of exceptional quality, on Oakville Cross Road. A panoramic view of the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountains enhances the mischief and wit of the Leavitt-Weaver-designed PlumpJack Winery tasting room and its surrounding 50 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines. The inaugural release of their 1995 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon created quite a stir among the wine community, and prompted Robert Parker, Jr. to assign a rating of 95+ points. That was just the beginning; if the 1995 Reserve created a commotion, the announcement of 1997 Reserve bottling with a screw cap closure-the first luxury producer to do so-turned the wine industry upside down in June, 2000. With current production of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah nearing capacity at 10,000 cases, this boutique winery has already exceeded the high expectations of its owners.

Keeping with the spirit of revival, the long-awaited restoration of the historical 1960's rock club, MatrixFillmore, was completed in late 2001. A complete departure for PlumpJack in style and look, the sleek, evocative MatrixFillmore was exactly what the neighborhood-and the city-needed. Invitingly warm with a glass façade, concrete log fireplace in the room's center, and plum velvet furniture and walls, MatrixFillmore captures the modern edge with a 61-inch plasma video screen and performance stage with state of the art sound system for live bands and DJ. Menus of classic and popular specialty cocktails include: a Peach Tea Mojito, Chocolate Chip Martini, Apple Cart, Sugar Magnolia and Mountain Cane Daiquiri.

Looking to extend the brand through a different segment of the retail market, PlumpJackSport was launched in Winter 2002 in The Village at Squaw Valley PlumpJackSport carries premier lines that reflect the tastes of its sophisticated clientele including: Rossignol, Salomon, Polo Ralph Lauren and MaxStudio to name just a few. Its immediate success prompted a second store, which opened at The Carneros Inn in 2007 featuring designer resort wear.

In January 2005, PlumpJack Group expanded their presence in the Napa Valley when they took over management of The Carneros Inn, a luxury resort in the Carneros region that offers 86 guest cottages and 24 private Homes, The Orchard fractional ownership units, The Town Square with includes a local Market and the area's first post office, award-winning spa, and three eateries, the guest only Hilltop Dining Room and The Boon Fly Café and FARM at The Carneros Inn which are both open to the public. The Inn is the first and only resort in the world-renowned Carneros wine region. As the management company for The Carneros Inn, PlumpJack Group is able to highlight their expertise in the food, wine and hospitality industries. Each of the private cottages at The Carneros Inn is furnished in a casually elegant style and nestled in a lush garden courtyard with private deck. The property also boasts terrace dining and an infinity pool overlooking the beautiful rolling hills and vineyards, an architecturally dramatic restaurant, bar and spa facilities, and most importantly, first-class service delivered with warmth and ease.

Perched high upon Napa's elusive Howell Mountain, among a dramatic hillside of Manzanita trees is CADE Winery, the latest addition to the PlumpJack family. The unique, state-of-the-art, LEED certified facility producing an exquisite Estate Cabernet as well as an enticing Sauvignon Blanc and a rich Cabernet Sauvignon from local artisanal grapes. CADE's first release is the 2006 CADE Sauvignon Blanc and CADE's first Cabernet Sauvignon will be available in spring 2008.