2018 HOOPLA "The Mutt" Red Wine Napa Valley

HOOPLA

¥5,280 (incl. tax)

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What they lack in pedigree, mutts often make up for in personality, character and entertainment value. And that’s how the folks at Hoopla see this wine. Though blended from the “seconds” that didn’t fit into the winery’s premium wines, The Mutt has the aromas, body and length one expects from a Napa Valley wine - but without the high-premium price. Featuring more Merlot than Cabernet, this is a fun and fruit-driven wine that offers intense aromas and a juicy palate of ripe cherries and plums. The wine will pair well with anything grilled at a summertime barbecue. But if juicy steaks or hefty pork chops are your thing, you won’t be disappointed. 

Winery


Winery Description

Located on prime Napa Valley real estate, where the Oakville AVA borders Yountville, the Hoopes Vineyard is a family business with a twist: it’s a father-daughter operation – in which (daughter) Lindsay Hoopes has full control of managing the business. Her father, Spencer Hoopes, came to farming and winegrowing by following his passion for collecting great wines. In 1983, he planted a ten-acre vineyard in the Oakville AVA and was soon supplying premium fruit to several esteemed wineries. 15 years later, he started his own label in order to make the aromatic wines with balance and structure that he loved most. A sweetspot for Cabernet Sauvignon, the Oakville AVA features well-drained sandy and gravelly soils as well as a slightly warmer climate that allows this late-ripening variety to develop rich and complex flavors. Think “Napa Cab” and you are probably thinking “Oakville” - as it is home to many of the Valley’s most iconic wines. Hence, it’s not surprising that Hoopes Vineyard focuses on Cabernet. But, as a small enterprise comprising estate vineyards as well as a winery, Hoopes Vineyard represents the pure relationship between grape grower and winemaker in a way that few do in the Napa Valley anymore. Under the flagship Hoopes label, the winery produces Cabernet from its estate vineyard in Oakville as well as from select vineyards in other parts of the Valley. 

These wines, produced through meticulous farming and a minimalist approach to winemaking, are deep and complex and will reward years of cellaring. This label also includes Sauvignon Blanc from Coombsville as well as Chardonnay from Carneros. The winery also launched Hoopla, originally as a way to utilize the barrels that didn’t make it into the top blends but now as a label that emphasizes the fun and joie de vivre of a life in - or with - wine. The dog on the label is Dante, Spencer’s faithful and energetic terrier (now deceased), whose boundless energy might symbolize how we should approach wine in our lives - with a sense of play and fun rather than formality and seriousness.

About this Wine


Country USA
Region California
Appellation(s) Napa Valley
Winery Hoopes/Hoopla
Vintage 2018
Color Red
Varietal(s) Red Bordeaux Blend
Closure Cork
Volume 750ml
Bottle Size 7.5 x 30.0
Case Size 32.0 x 24.0 x 31.0
Alcohol 13.9%
Product Code HP18LNR
UPC 857416001004

Owning & Enjoying


Tasting notes

Aromas of blackberry are lifted with hints of violets and anise. A sip unleashes rich dark plums layered in toasted oak. Soft tannins linger in the finish along with hints of cola and vanilla.

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