New Arrivals

Chasing her dogs one morning, Lindsay stumbled across a lovely Chardonnay vineyard across the borderline in Yountville. A short conversation and a handshake with the owner was all it took to procure a new source of excellent Chardonnay fruit. Fermented almost entirely in stainless steel, the wine offers a mouthfeel that’s round and creamy along with vibrant notes of pear, melon and pineapple. A generous Chardonnay that’s bright and pure and without oaky notes of butter and vanilla, Hoopla Yountville Chardonnay is a lovely wine with an affordable price. 

Despite the playful “hoopla,” this is serious and seductive Cabernet. Sourced from vineyards in Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles, the wine goes deep with concentrated dark fruit flavors but remains balanced with acidity and well-integrated oak. With alcohol of only 13.9%, this Cab is food friendly, and the reasonable price means no special occasion is required to enjoy it over a meal with friends or family.  

Just as mutts can be pretty awesome dogs – often healthier and more unique and even-tempered than purebreeds – Hoopla’s “The Mutt” turns an uncertain pedigree into a stellar performance. Blended from the “seconds” that don’t fit into the premium wines, The Mutt will change its constituents from vintage to vintage. In 2014, the blend is primarily Merlot (87%) with additional 7% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Largely sourced from Rutherford, this is a fun and fruit-driven wine that offers intense aromas and a juicy palate of ripe cherries and plums. Though easy to drink, it has plenty of complexity and concentration to startle the mind and stimulate the conversation. 

Sourced from the Hoopes estate in Oakville as well as vineyards in St. Helena, Oak Knoll, southern Napa and Coombsville, this Cabernet combines the qualities of unique terroirs into a grand expression of the region. While 2014 was a rather dry year in the middle of a multi-year drought, moderate temperatures throughout the growing season allowed the grapes to develop their ripe and concentrated flavors slowly. This is a stunning wine that delivers intensity and richness. 

When it comes to Merlot, location is everything. To avoid Merlot that’s soft, over-ripe and jammy, it should be planted in vineyards that are cool but not too cold – such as in St Emilion or Pomerol, where Merlot-dominant wines are savory with great finesse and elegance. Maya’s Merlot is from a vineyard on Howell Mountain, where summer days are sunny but windy and significantly cooler than the valley floor. Planted in well-drained, volcanic soils, the vines produce grapes with small berries, giving the wines more tannin, as well as earthy flavors and subtle fruit. The 2014 Maya’s Merlot is rich, dark and complex - with leather, black pepper and meaty notes to compliment the lush flavors of black cherry and chocolate. Drink now or wait five or ten years. 

The estate that produces Hoopes’ flagship wine is situated in a neighborhood of such Napa Valley icons as Opus 1, Robert Mondavi, and Harlan Estate. Nevertheless, we believe Hoopes Oakville Cab can enter the ring and go the distance against any of those heavyweights. In addition to having a microclimate that’s not exactly cool or warm, the estate is blessed with easy-draining, volcanic soils, which are rare in Oakville and barely present on the floor of the Napa Valley. The winemaker, Anne Vawter, who developed her concentrated yet balanced style of winemaking while working under Heidi Peterson Barrett for four years at the Paradigm Winery, sees Oakville as Napa’s most exciting subappellation, her “solar plexus.” With 2013 widely acclaimed as the standout vintage of the decade so far, this is a sophisticated wine that’s made in an opulent style featuring black currant, dark chocolate and cherry flavors as well as a creamy mouthfeel. While this young beast delivers intense pleasure now, patience and cellaring will be rewarded as the wine ages into maturity.