oakville-wines
2013 Hoopes Cabernet Sauvignon – “lips drink water, hearts drink wine”- e.e. cummings
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Unwrapped the bottle as it was time to indulge in a treat. This is beyond your classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon! One of the best wines tasted in a while. First on the eyes, an inky purple and dark wine in the glass having a heavy viscosity that oozes richness. On the nose a bouquet of violets, cloves and blackberries greet the imbiber. On the palate the descriptors are numerous with espresso, plum, dark chocolate, soft leather, earthiness and raspberries. A wide-reaching broad flavor profile. Secondary flavors of black cherries and a hint of soft vanilla pipe tobacco enliven the sipping experience. On the finish finely sculptured tannins, velvety and yet present, along with dark chocolate complete the experience.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While waiting some 12 years in the bottle, the reward was breathtaking and worth the wait. This wine made my annual Best Wines Tasted for 2025 with an exclamation! Note the excellent condition of the cork.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Prepared one of our favorite dishes last evening, Mediterranean beef kebabs. The recipe called for sirloin beef, but substituted filet mignon. Cut the filet mignon meat and were marinated for almost two hours in the refrigerator. The ingredients for the marinade include fresh lemon juice, marjoram, oregano, parsley, paprika, black pepper, Himalayan Sea salt, olive oil and fresh minced garlic.
Pieces of the filet mignon and vegetables were cut up to fit in the kabab grilling baskets preferred for grilling to capture all the ingredients rather than skewers. Besides the beef, two different colored bell peppers slices (yellow and orange ), and purple onion slices were loaded into the baskets. Placed on the BBQ between medium to medium-high for about 10-12 minutes rotating the baskets 90 degrees every 3 minutes. Emptied from the basket and served.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The meal was accompanied by roasted quarter potatoes in oil, garlic salt and pepper. Additionally, a fresh garden salad and old fashion Italian dressing was served made the salad delicious. The salad was comprised of Iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, green onions and along with sliced black olives and sliced candied almonds.
This meal was extremely tasty, spicy and provided a real Mediterranean experience. It was like Spain, France, Italy and Greece combined to throw a party! Combined with the exquisite wine, one of the best food and wine pairing enjoyed last evening.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Their statement from e.e. cummings is a classic for this winery. Their other tag line is “in dogged pursuit of perfect wines”. Lindsay Hoopes is the second-generation owner of the vineyard. Her father Spencer founded the vineyard and worked at the small twelve-acre parcel in Oakville producing award winning wines for many years. Lindsay returned in 2012 needing to help with an illness in the family. Taking full charge, she made some unique changes including hooking up with famed vintners Anne Vawter and Jennifer Rue to produce new and bold Cabernets. Lindsay took up the challenge to develop bio-diverse farming practice initiatives for sustainability certification. Lindsay undertook the adventure to find new and unique vineyards throughout Napa Valley to augment their estate offering. She also founded a rescue sanctuary for animals. The quote in the title is one of Lindsay’s favorites. This wine was produced by Anne Vawter who learned her craft under Heidi Peterson Barrett at Paradigm. In 2020 the noted and heralded winemaker Aaron Pott joined Hoopes as the winemaker with his impressive and extensive resume from Napa Valley and beyond.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of the winery was where I did my first tasting in 2019, which was their home. Sipping and discussing various wines at the dining room table while looking out into the vineyard adds a “real touch” of genuineness to the experience without pretense.
Today they produce Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc (Atlas Peak), Chardonnay (Carneros), Syrah (Oak Knoll), Merlot (Howell Mountain) and various levels of distinct Cabernet Sauvignon’s (from $125 to $225/bottle).
Sláinte,
Michael