Hope Family Wines Tasting with Austin Hope

I was fortunate to sit down for a tasting recently with Austin Hope, winemaker at Hope Family wines along with Zach from Mark Anthony Group. Located in Paso Robles, California, Hope Family wines is family-owned and operated, producing five labels under the Hope Family banner: Liberty school, Treana, Candor, Troublemaker and Austin Hope. 

2014 Liberty School Chardonnay, Central Coast, California 13.5% $21.95 (960120)
Barrel fermented in neutral oak and aged sur lie for 6-8 months. Nose of baked apple, lemon curd, faint baking spices. Dry, full bodied with balanced, juicy acidity. Elegant and restrained with notable purity of fruit and subtle oak. Currently in LCBO Vintages. (89)

2014 Treana Chardonnay, Paso Robles, California $29.95 (481523) 
Released in Vintages 2 months ago. Half fermented in stainless steel, half French oak barrel fermented. Toasty, butterscotch, lemon meringue, honey, baked apple, pear, cinnamon, clove and sweet spices. Full and plush, with generous flavour mid palate and a long nutty finish. Rich and bold. Available through LCBO Vintages. (88) 

2014 Treana Blanc, Paso Robles, California 14% $29.95 (11247)
A very cool blend of 45% Viognier, 45% Marsanne and 10% Roussanne (all 3 Rhone white varieties). First vintage was released in 1996, and grapes come mostly from Santa Lucia Highlands and Monterey County. 80% barrel fermented in 25% new French oak. This wine was the wild card of the tasting, a very cool white blend with tons of character and style. Aromatic with attractive notes of honey, white flowers, apricot, candied lemon, smoke and toast. Full and lush with supple acidity and wonderful texture. Long peachy finish. A big, generous wine. Available through LCBO Vintages. (90) 

2014 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5% $21.95 (738823) 
Matured for 16 months in a combination of French and American oak, only 5% new barrels. Dark brooding fruit with blackberry, stewed plum, blueberry pie, pepper, spice, cedar and toast.  Full and plump with supple tannins and generous texture. A Vintages Essential product. (88) 

2014 Treana Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles $39.95
First vintage, new to Canada. Rave reviews from Wine Enthusiast. Dedicated to three driving forces in Austin’s life: his father, uncle and Chuck Wagner. Blackberry, black cherry, cassis, brambly fruit, pencil lead, leather, spices. Full, firm tannins with tons of density and extract. A meaty, rich Cab. Insane value at this price. Private order through Mark Anthony. (91) 
$25.95

NV Lot 7 Candor Zinfandel, Lodi, California 14.5% $18.25 (133389)
89% Zinfandel with 11% Merlot. Matured for 18 months in a combination of French and American oak, 15% new barrels. Strawberry jam, stewed cherry, raspberry, blueberries, vanilla notes. Medium bodied, juicy acidity, pliable tannins. Smoky, toasty finish. Available at LCBO Vintages and consignment. (88)

NV Troublemaker Blend 10, Central Coast, California 14.5% $24.95 (478636)
Multi-vintage blend of 50% Syrah, 17% Zinfandel, 15% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 8% Petit Sirah. Aged for a minimum of 14 months in combination of French and American oak, 30% new wood. Majority of fruit for this wine is sourced from Paso Robles. Intense and smoky with toasty, blueberry jam, brambly, black cherry/kirch, coffee and molasses notes. Full and flavourful. Available at LCBO Vintages and consignment through Mark Anthony. (88)

2013 Austin Hope Syrah, Templeton Gap District, Paso Robles, California 15.5% $59.95 
2000 was first vintage for this wine, and the label has a great story behind it. While on their honeymoon in Thailand, Austin and his wife Celeste encountered Asian Elephants with a knack for painting. One of the works created by the elephants now hangs in Austin’s office and was used as the label art for this unique bottling. The grapes for the Austin Hope Syrah are grown on the Hope Family Vineyard, in the Templeton Gap region of Paso Robles. A blend of four different Syrah clones, the wine is aged for 10 months in mostly new French oak barrels. Blueberry, plum, spice, smoke, pepper, tar and cigar notes. Full, crazy extract with palate-coating tannins and smoky finish. Private order only through Mark Anthony. (89)

2014 Treana Red, Paso Robles, California 15% $41.95 (11221)
Treana was created as a benchmark to showcase the Paso Robles region, with the first vintage created in 1996. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah, aged a total of 20 months in mostly French oak, 70% new wood. Lots of Cab character with juicy black fruit, blackberry, mulberry, black cherry, leather, spice, lead, with blueberry jam and black pepper notes. Full, firm, ripe tannins, meaty texture and generous finish. Bold and rich. Available at LCBO Vintages and consignment through Mark Anthony.  (90)
​​
For additional information on these wines and currently availability, please contact Mark Anthony Group http://markanthonywineandspirits.ca
​