“The 2017 Sophie’s is a beauty. It displays gorgeous aromatics of ripe black cherry, currant, strawberry and iris along with some soft and creamy notes of Madagascar vanilla, nutmeg and cocoa. These aromatics carry through to a medium bodied, expansive Syrah that is overall pure, elegant, and balanced. The velvety smooth texture and fine tannins are notable here, supporting a flavorful, clean midpalate of black cherry and a quiet complexity. There is a graceful fading transition to the finish with a lovely tactile presence and a sense of an umami quality ending with seductive dark chocolate and cherries.” – Winemakers, Anne Vawter & Jennifer Rue
Food Pairing Suggestions
grilled lamb, barbecue ribs, roasted duck sausages and beef casseroles, bleu and salty cheeses, such as Gorgonzola, Asiago, Gouda and Gruyere.
Production
155 cases
Alcohol
15%
Aging Potential
Drinking wonderfully now, it benefits from a two-hour decant, and should continue to shine for 5-7 years or longer.
Vineyard
Hoopes Vineyard
About The Vineyard
“Although this is our first bottling from this magnificent Oak Knoll vineyard, our Winemaker has been working with the fruit since the 2007 vintage. The lean soils of this warm and uniquely exposed “bowl” site yield clusters in below average size, resulting in character and richness. The diminutive berries permit a rare and perfect ripening year over year. We wanted to round out our beautiful Bordeaux assortment of wines with this classic Rhône varietal, so when the fruit became available, we knew we had to have it!”
– Second Generation Proprietor, Lindsay Hoopes
Winemaker Notes
Barrel Aging: 22 Months in 100% French coopers, 30% New
“2017 began with abundant rainfall recharging the soil profile and putting an end to the drought conditions of the prior year. A mild spring and summer followed, with excellent weather during flowering, set, veraison and ripening. Of note was the Labor Day heat storm that kicked off a series of days and nights with higher than normal temperatures. In our Syrah, we see the story of the vintage playing out as the heat of early September served to darken the fruit and deepen the flavor profile.”
