Mission Codename Thrilled to pieces
“Made by Jean Hoefliger and from the Suisun Valley, east of Napa Valley, these reds are outstanding.” – Jeb Dunnuck
Looking for a power-packed, stacked and jacked red blend? One made by a pro winemaker who worked at Lynch Bages among other ultra-premium wineries… for just over $20?! From the awesome 2016 vintage??
Oh yea, “The Thrill” is on today. This hits all those boxes and more.
A true ‘bang for your buck’ deal that goes HARD in the fruit department with that rare combination of Syrah with Cabernet. Frankly we haven’t had a wine made by Jean Hoefliger (AXR, The Debate, Alpha Omega, Newton) that does not over-deliver. The man has a few 100-pointers and a grip of 95+ rated wines under his belt.
And most of his wines cost 5x the price of this one! Or much more… making $22 seem like a dream.
So how do they do it? Well, it’s not from Napa for starters. There’s a reason Caymus expanded their sights to Suisun Valley. It’s just a long golf drive away from Napa (ok a few miles), right over the hill. And it boasts a similar climate, slightly warmer, with great terroir and sans tourist destinations, millions per acre land, and multi-million-dollar wineries, it brings a different vibe. A more affordable one.
Which means they can turn loose big, juicy reds like this for a fraction of the cost.
If you like full-bodied, lushly fruited wines, this will sit firmly in your wheelhouse. It’s chock full of black fruit from the Syrah - roasted plums, blueberry jam, a hint of peppery olives. The Cab delivers some extra backbone, more layers of dark red and black fruit, a dusting of cocoa and it’s all pulled together with some lavish toasty oak. Not for the shy, or anyone looking for a dainty, delicate red! This is a big boy, hedonistic, and suited for summer grilling, braised meats, and possibly a meal on its own.
The wine press agrees, it “springs from the glass with vivacious red and black raspberries, black plums and wild blueberry scents with touches of dried herbs, black pepper and chargrill… it has soft, rounded tannins and great freshness, finishing peppery” per Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
All that for a mere 22 bucks??!
Lock it down ‘cause just 4 barrels were made, this WILL NOT LAST!
What the Winery Says
2016 'The Thrill' Estate Red
- Winemaker
- Jean Hoefliger
- Varietals
- 80% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage
- 2016
- Alcohol
- 15.1%
- Appellation
- Suisun Valley, North Coast
- Vineyard
- GrapeHeart Estates
- Aging
- 20 months
- Barrels
- 50% new French oak