In the wine world, if your last name is Beckstoffer you likely have an arsenal of the best vineyard resources available to make a world-class Napa Valley wine.  One taste of the new 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter is all the proof you’ll need.  2016 is the first vintage of this renowned wine that was produced entirely by Tuck and his team after purchasing Dancing Hares in 2016. Tuck Beckstoffer is the son of renowned grape grower Andy Beckstoffer, whose company is one of the largest independent vineyard owners in Northern California. Tuck enlisted the talents of Shawn Johnson, who previously made wine at Merus, to help make the Mad Hatter one of Napa Valley’s foremost second wines, and at about 1/2 the price of the Dancing Hares, Mad Hatter offers an excellent value.  

 

Located at the foot of Howell Mountain, the winery produces two limited-production wines, which include their Dancing Hares Red (retails for around $150/btl,) and the Mad Hatter which retails at $75/btl. The 2016 Mad Hatter is powerful and seductive and is loaded with candied red berries, incense, wild raspberries, espresso roast, and dried violets.  Don’t let this vintage escape down the rabbit hole before you’re able to secure your case.