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Hoopes Napa Valley is a blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Merlot sourced from the family’s estate in Oakville as well as other Napa Valley vineyards. Given that wines produced by Hoopes’s famous neighbors sell for hundreds of dollars, this Cabernet offers a mighty value. 2017 was a year that saw ample winter rains, moderate summer temperatures, and an easy harvest that was complete before destructive fires tore across the hills to the east. Lindsey Hoopes says, “The 2017 Napa Cab has this incredible juicy acidity that complements the fine-grained tannins through the finish. Aromas of Black Licorice, Spearmint, and Eucalyptus welcome you to the glass. As the wine continues to open, you will gather expressions of plum, juicy blueberries, and freshly brewed coffee.” While this wine has been made to be enjoyed on release, it has acidity and tannin structure to improve with age. Pair with cuts of beef or pork – braised, stewed or grilled.
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.
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | Napa Valley |
| Winery | Hoopes/Hoopla |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Color | Red |
| Varietal(s) | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 7.5 x 33.0 |
| Case Size | 31.5 x 24.5 x 34.0 |
| Alcohol | 14.5% |
| Product Code | HP17NCB |
| UPC | 857416200131 |
90 points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
Aromas of dark berries and blackcurrant jam with hints of licorice, espresso, and violets presage layers of black fruits, ripe plum, spices, and leather that are framed by a juicy texture and well-integrated tannins.
Aged for 22 months in 45% new French oak.