Dancing Hares Mad Hatter 2017

Dancing Hares Mad Hatter 2017 is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux-style red blend from Napa Valley's St. Helena AVA, bottled at 750ml. Produced from a vineyard at the base of Howell Mountain under the direction of acclaimed winemaker Andy Erickson with consultation from Michel Rolland and vineyard management by David Abreu, this is a seriously pedigreed Napa red built for depth and complexity.

Quick Facts: Type: Red Bordeaux-Style Blend  |  Origin: St. Helena, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Producer: Tuck Beckstoffer Wines / Dancing Hares

Production & Heritage

The Dancing Hares vineyard was planted in 2000 on rocky, porous soils at the base of Howell Mountain in St. Helena. The Mad Hatter bottling draws from selected vineyard blocks representing a blend of microclimates and soil types across the property. The 2017 vintage is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend incorporating classic Bordeaux varieties including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The winemaking team — Andy Erickson directing production, legendary Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland advising, and renowned viticulturist David Abreu overseeing the vines — represents one of Napa Valley's most formidable collaborations.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe blueberry and black cherry before layering in darker tones of tobacco, violets, and crème de cassis. Toasted almonds and a subtle spice-box quality emerge as the wine breathes.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is generous with blueberry and plum, moving into a mid-palate saturated with dark chocolate and blackberry. Licorice and plum preserve flavors build through a full, well-structured mouthfeel that reflects the volcanic Howell Mountain-adjacent terroir.

Finish: The finish is silky and extended, carrying lingering notes of dark fruit, baking spice, and a subtle earthy minerality. Refined tannins provide length without astringency.

How to Drink Mad Hatter 2017

Serve at 60–65°F, ideally after 30–60 minutes of decanting to allow the aromatics to fully unfold. This wine is best enjoyed on its own or alongside food — its structure and fruit concentration make it versatile at the table. A classic pairing approach: grilled lamb chops with rosemary to complement the wine's herbal undertones, dry-aged ribeye to stand up to the full body, or braised short ribs with a red wine reduction to echo the dark fruit profile.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley wine collector
• Anchoring a tasting flight of 2017 Napa Bordeaux-style blends
• Pairing with a special occasion steak dinner
• Cellaring for mid-term aging over the next five to ten years

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mad Hatter 2017 taste like? Mad Hatter 2017 delivers rich blueberry, plum, and dark chocolate flavors with accents of cassis, licorice, and baking spice, finishing with silky tannins and lingering dark fruit.

How does Mad Hatter compare to the Dancing Hares Proprietary Red? The Dancing Hares Proprietary Red is typically the estate's flagship bottling with a higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, while Mad Hatter draws from a broader blend of varieties and tends to emphasize approachability and aromatic complexity alongside structure.

Is Mad Hatter 2017 good for cellaring? Yes — the 2017 vintage's firm tannin structure and concentrated fruit suggest it will develop well over the next five to ten years, though it drinks with pleasure now after decanting.

Where is Mad Hatter made? Mad Hatter is produced by Tuck Beckstoffer Wines from the Dancing Hares vineyard in the St. Helena AVA of Napa Valley, California, situated at the base of Howell Mountain on rocky, porous volcanic soils.

What foods pair well with Mad Hatter 2017? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's herbal and spice notes; dry-aged beef matches its full body; braised short ribs echo the dark fruit character; aged Gouda or Gruyère highlight the chocolate undertones; and mushroom risotto pairs well with the earthy minerality on the finish.

What sizes does Mad Hatter come in? The Dancing Hares Mad Hatter 2017 is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Mad Hatter 2017 worth the price? Mad Hatter positions as a premium Napa Valley red blend, and the involvement of Andy Erickson, Michel Rolland, and David Abreu — three of the most respected names in California winemaking — places it in elite company at its price tier, offering serious pedigree relative to other Napa Bordeaux-style blends.

Why Mad Hatter 2017?

What distinguishes Mad Hatter from the crowded field of Napa Bordeaux blends starts in the vineyard: rocky, porous soils at the foot of Howell Mountain, managed by David Abreu, one of Napa's most sought-after viticulturists. The winemaking pedigree is equally rare — Andy Erickson at the helm with Michel Rolland consulting is a combination few properties can claim. The 2017 vintage in Napa Valley, which followed a wet winter and saw a late-season heat spike, produced wines of notable concentration and structure, and Mad Hatter captures that vintage character with rich dark fruit layered over polished tannins. This is a wine that earns its place through terroir and talent, not marketing.