At Hoopes Family Vineyard and Winery, the love of wine and farming is priority number one. Family-owned and operated, dedicated to crafting wines that seamlessly capture the relationship between grape-grower and winemaker. The wines marry old-world-farming and taste profiles with new-world fruit flavors and ripeness. Since 1999, the goal with the flagship Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon has been to capture the truest expression of the old-vine vineyard’s terroir. Planted in 1983 by Spencer Hoopes, it was previously a fruit source for a number of famous estates until the winemaking began being done in-house. When the second-generation Proprietor Lindsay Hoopes took the reins, she hired Heidi Barrett prodigy, Anne Vawter, as Winemaker. Anne broadened the scope to include very limited production Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Merlot, showcasing the diverse appellations of Napa Valley. Along with Dante’s Block, the Reserve Cabernet named after our beloved canine mascot, these boutique wines are only available direct from the winery.
This wine’s deep garnet hue invites you to dive into the nose as it opens with soft fruity-floral aromas of lilac and rose petals then moves into red fruits, pencil shavings, honey, and plum. The aromas are deceptively delicate and refined with an ethereal quality. The mouth is more concentrated leaning toward ripe, rich black fruits. Juicy blueberry and sweet licorice flavors carry into the mid-palate with an open, spacious, and inviting character. Lush, elegant, tannins support a mouthwatering finish with a savory aspect and notes of black tea bringing the wine to a balanced and layered close.