Red Wine Hoopla The Mutt Red Blend 2015. Hoopla is a fun and irreverent wine label made by Hoopes Vineyard which was established by Spencer Hoopes in 1983. Spencer grew up on a farm in Arizona and later developed a passion for wine after a chance invite to a wine tasting. Today this Napa Valley vineyard is run with the help of Spencer’s daughter, Lindsay, who has helped expand and grow the property from the initial 10 acres her father purchased in Oakville. Hoopla wines are inspired by the family’s love of dogs who have been their loyal companions over the years and even help to keep wild turkeys away from the ripe grapes at harvest time. The Mutt blend in particular pays homage to Maya and Sophie, the family’s two rescue dogs, who exude charm and character despite lacking pedigree status. In the same way, this cuvee is crafted from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes which combine to create something far greater than their constituent parts. Grapes for The Mutt come from the warm St Helena sub-region, moderate Oakville and the cooler Yountville area. This breadth helps to capture an authentic portrait of the Napa terroir and ensures plenty of bright, juicy fruit flavours balanced by a subtle freshness and a silky smooth texture. Before bottling the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months to add extra polish and hints of winter spice and toasted oak.
2015
Red Wine Hoopla The Mutt Red Blend 2015
Red Wine Chakana Estate Selection Blend 2015. Chakana Estate was founded in 2002 by the Pelizzatti family whose winemaking roots can be traced back to 19th century Italy. Set in Agrelo in Argentina’s premier Mendoza wine region, the estate now boasts around 120 hectares of vines including some high altitude plots in the Valle de Uco and in Lujan de Cuyo. Here conditions are ideal for making luscious and aromatic full-bodied reds thanks to the sunny summer days and cooler nights which help preserve freshness in the grapes. In recent years the Pelizzattis have converted all of their vineyards to organic and biodynamic agriculture, and in the winery they avoid using sulphur and other chemical additives whenever possible. Chakana’s Estate Selection wines are crafted from the finest plots owned by the family. This robust and punchy red blend is composed of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon with the grapes sourced from Valle de Uco vineyards which sit at 1300 metres above altitude. Once in the winery the grapes are fermented and the young wine is then transferred to concrete tanks and 3000 and 5000 litre neutral oak casks for 12 months. This mixture of oak and concrete vessels helps to preserve the aromatics of the grapes while rounding out the tannins and texture of the wine. The result is a deeply fruited red with ample aromas of spice, toast and bitter licorice which pairs perfectly with hearty red meat dishes.
2015
Red Wine Chateau Haut-Bacalan Pessac-Leognan 2015. Owners in Champagne for more than two centuries, the Gonet family, after a first acquisition of a vineyard in Bordeaux in the 1980s (Château Lesparre), has increased its presence in the region by rehabilitating three properties of the Pessac -Léognan appellation: Château Haut- Bacalan, Château d’Eck, and Château Saint-Eugène. Château Haut-Bacalan takes its name from M. de Bacalan, owner of this vineyard to which he gave his name in 1748. Two and a half centuries later, the winery has become the property of the Gonet family, who produced their first vintage here in 2001. In this 7 hectares vineyard, on gravel and clay, are planted with high density Merlot (80%), Cabernet-Sauvignon (15%), and Petit-Verdot (5%) vines. Quintessence of the Gonet vineyards in Pessac, Château Haut-Bacalan is a perfect blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 55% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. In the glass, the wine shows a bright garnet red color. On the nose, it reveals an aromatic complexity dominated by red fruits, some sweet spices, subtle floral nuances, and empyreumatic notes. On the palate, it combines power and refinement. It offers rich sensations with notes of ripe fruit, liquorice, leather, and velvety tannins. The finish is long and intense. Perfect with poultry and duck, but an absolute try with stuffed guinea fowl.
2015