Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Plenty of ripe blueberry and plum aromas here with a swathe of violet-like florals, too. The palate is succulent and fleshy with a long array of plush, supple tannins that carry ample depth and rich, fresh fruit to the finish. A blend of 48 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 40 per cent merlot, and 12 per cent petite sirah.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Red Blend Mad Hatter is composed of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 12% old-vine Petite Sirah. It sings of crushed red and black cherries, warm cassis and blueberry compote with suggestions of forest floor, camphor and Indian spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is well-poised with chewy, approachable tannins and a spicy kick to the finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Napa Valley and its well-built and powerful red wines perform well in the US marketplace. From coast to coast, these wines have a rock-solid position amongst a large group of consumers. The 2016 Tuck Beckstoffer Mad Hatter fits perfectly here. TASTING NOTES: This wine with its extracted black fruit and oak aromas and flavors are rich and long from start to finish. Its ultra-rich textures should pair well with a sausage and mushroom pizza. (Tasted: July 18, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.