PlumpJack Café and Bar isn’t much of a secret. With celebrity ownership, a stellar world-class location and connections with the eponymous PlumpJack Winery, as well as Cade and Odette Wineries in Napa Valley, it’s about as “Squallywood” as it gets.
Courtesy PlumpJack
With the amazing cuisine of Executive Chef Jack Connell and a wine cellar that won Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence, PlumpJack’s is a true destination. It features a several-hundred-selection wine list with classics across all regions and categories going back decades, and a complete beverage program with a vast collection of spirits and beers.
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“PlumpJack’s own Napa Syrah is a blockbuster that had Rhône-like characteristics of minerals and gaminess along with an upfront Napa fruit profile of dark blackberries and morello cherries.”
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Seafood Poke Cones | Courtesy PlumpJack
A wonderful place to begin and a feast for the eyes, as well as the palate, are the seafood poke cones featuring the crispy-crunchy housemade pastry cones, overflowing with rich ahi and fresh vegetables. The Taittinger NV La Francaise Brut, $33 for a half-bottle, was just as rich and vibrant as the food and had the complexity that Taittinger is known for.
Seared Scallops | Courtesy PlumpJack
Another dish that proved to be a work of art as well as great eats, was the pan-seared diver scallops with pickled beets, roasted brussel sprouts and pistachio pesto. A magical match with the Cade 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Napa, $45 a bottle, that has an extra dose of richness and aromatic floral complexity to go along with bright citrus and melon on the palate.
PlumpJack’s own Napa Syrah from the spectacular 2013 vintage, $79 a bottle, is a blockbuster that had Rhône-like characteristics of minerals and gaminess along with an upfront Napa fruit profile of dark blackberries and morello cherries — all hung on a beautiful tannic frame. It seemed made to order for the robust flavors of the Flatiron Steak with potato galette and broccoli rabe with a mushroom demi.
For an after-dinner delight, it’s hard to pass up the rare opportunity to sample the Rare Wine Co. Historic Series 4 Madeira Flight, $28 for 1.5 ounces, consisting of all four of the sweetness/quality levels of Madeira made from Verdehlo, Sercial, Malmsey and Bual grapes. They played wonderfully with the apple pistachio tart with mascarpone ice cream and pomegranate reduction.
This is a list for wine lovers to explore and celebrate with both current vintages and aged options in almost every category. It features real vertical depth in Napa Cabernets from iconic estates reaching back decades. Also not to be missed is a vast selection of European classics from Burgundy, Italy, Bordeaux and Champagne.
PFor reservations or more information, call (530) 583-1576 or visit plumpjacksquawvalleyinn.com.
Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier and his consulting business wineprowest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or lou@wineprowest.com. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for more wine columns.
