Troublemaker Blend 17

Troublemaker Blend 17 is a bold, crowd‑pleasing red from California’s Central Coast, crafted for immediate enjoyment and effortless good times. Built around Syrah and lifted by the region’s signature Zinfandel, it delivers generous fruit, spice, and velvety richness straight from the first pour. Using a Solera-inspired approach and a selection of top parcels from multiple vintages, it offers remarkable depth, complexity, and value in the glass.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Troublemaker Blend 17 shows a deep, inky ruby color with a vivid purple rim, signaling both concentration and youthful energy. The nose is expressive and layered: ripe blackberries, black cherry, and blueberry compote wrapped in notes of vanilla, caramel, and cocoa from its time in French and American oak. Hints of black pepper, licorice, and a touch of dried herbs add a savory, Rhône‑like complexity. On the palate, this is unapologetically full-bodied and plush, with dark fruit at the core—black cherries, plum, and boysenberry—enveloped in sweet baking spices, vanilla, and a streak of smoky oak. The Syrah brings blue fruit and pepper, Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah contribute structure and darker tones, Grenache adds a juicier red-fruited lift, and Zinfandel delivers that signature peppery kick on the finish. Tannins are smooth and rounded, offering grip without harshness, while the acidity keeps the wine lively rather than heavy. Crafted from a blend of vintages aged an average of 25 months in 70% new French and American oak, it drinks beautifully on release but has the stuffing to evolve gracefully over the next 5–7 years, softening further and integrating its oak and spice.

Production
Sourced from select vineyards across California’s Central Coast—particularly the sun‑drenched, rolling hills around Paso Robles—Troublemaker Blend 17 reflects a warm, Mediterranean climate tempered by cooling ocean breezes and significant diurnal shifts. This combination ripens Syrah, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Zinfandel to full flavor while preserving enough freshness for balance. Grapes are typically harvested at optimal ripeness, often in the cool of night or early morning to retain aromatics and avoid oxidation. The wine is produced using a Solera‑inspired method: portions of earlier vintages (from 2017 onward) are blended with more recent lots to build complexity, consistency, and depth. After fermentation in stainless steel and/or neutral vessels to preserve fruit purity, the blend spends on average 25 months in a mix of French and American oak barrels, about 70% of which are new, imparting vanilla, caramel, and spice that complement the wine’s generous fruit profile.

Food & Serving
Troublemaker Blend 17 is made for hearty, flavor‑packed meals and relaxed gatherings. It shines alongside grilled or barbecued meats—think ribs with a smoky glaze, chargrilled steaks, lamb chops, or burgers loaded with mature cheddar and bacon. It also pairs beautifully with slow‑braised dishes like short ribs, chili, pulled pork, or rich pasta ragù, as well as robust pizzas, aged cheddar, Gouda, or blue cheeses. Serve at around 16–18°C (60–64°F) to keep the fruit vivid and the structure in balance. A short decant of 30–45 minutes helps the aromatics open and integrates the oak and tannins, but the wine is already generous and approachable straight from the bottle—especially in good company.

Producer
Troublemaker is a project of Hope Family Wines, a leading producer based in Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast. The Hope family has farmed in the region for decades and has played a key role in elevating Paso Robles from a quiet agricultural area to one of California’s most dynamic wine regions, particularly for richly styled red blends. With deep relationships across top vineyard sites, the winery is known for crafting accessible, fruit‑forward wines that overdeliver on quality and value. Troublemaker, in particular, has earned a loyal following—and critical praise—for its bold style, creative multi‑vintage blending, and consistent quality, making it a modern Central Coast benchmark for full‑bodied, pleasure‑driven reds.

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