About Troublemaker Blend 14 by Austin Hope:
Comprised of varietals that flourish in Central Coast growing region, Troublemaker Blend 14 consists of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel. Syrah is the backbone of the wine, setting the stage for a fruit-forward style and a full body. Petite Sirah contributes to the deep ruby color. Sweet and bright red fruit flavors of Grenache blend with the rustic and lively flavors of the Mourvèdre, while Zinfandel adds its signature zing to round out the blend. Inspired by the early days of Austin Hope (the owner of Hope Family Wines), pushing boundaries and finding your path, ability to create and innovate.
Tasting Notes:
Lusciously rich in color and texture, the Troublemaker Red Blend is a beautiful wine with aromas of dark fruit, black pepper and a hint of asphalt. On the pallet, sweet vanilla, black berry cobbler, fresh currant and our signature splash of acidity create a lingering flavor that is finished with smooth & silky tannins.
Barrel Selection:
55% new French & American Oak, 12-20 months on average.
Growing Notes:
The grapes for Troublemaker are sourced from key vineyard sites throughout the Central Coast, adding to the complexity of the blend. The warm climate of Paso Robles – specifically Estrella, and El Pomar Districts provides much of the Syrah and Petite Sirah to the blend, adding body, depth, and color to the wine. Other Central Coast vineyard sites were chosen for their unique characteristics, including Grenache and Mourvedre from the Arroyo Grande Valley, and Syrah from Edna Valley ultimately leading to a more complex blend.
Harvest Dates: 9/30-10/19/2016 | 9/18-11/3/2017 |9/29-11/6/2018 |10/4-11/8/2019
Winemaking Notes:
The grapes were harvested, crushed, then cold-soaked prior to fermentation, we utilize both small open top and pump over fermenters, as we ferment all varietals separately for 7 to 14 days. Wines were aged in oak between 12-20 months, depending on the vintage. All barrel aging was done in French and American oak barrels, 55% of which were new. Blend 14 was assembled in January of 2021 and was cross-flow filtered prior to bottling in late February of 2021
About The Winery:
Austin Hope, winemaker and heir of the Hope Family Vineyards, launched his eponymous label in 2000 with a focus on Rhône varieties. In 2017, he expanded his range with Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. Hope is dedicated to producing wines of exceptional quality that accurately reflect the region’s terroir.
His Troublemaker vineyards live up to the wine they produce. They can be a bit wild and live on the edge; the edge of growing regions, of sub-AVAs and sometimes, civilization, along the Central Coast! One Syrah vineyard is located in the oak forests south east of Arroyo Grande in a remote valley. To say it is wild is an understatement.