2014 Tuck Beckstoffer Amulet

Tuck Beckstoffer Wines has a familiar ring to anyone who spends much time with California wines. Tuck Beckstoffer is part of the famous Beckstoffer Vineyards family. His father Andy Beckstoffer moved to Napa Valley in the 1960s and established some of the most prestigious vineyards in the region. Beckstoffer Vineyards owns vineyards and manages other people’s vineyards. Tuck grew up farming and working in the family business. But since the late 1990s he also has made wine. Today Tuck Beckstoffer Wines, in St. Helena, makes several labels. The Seventy-Five label is an homage to the year 1975, which was an important year for Tuck. The label is devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and a Bordeaux blend. Tuck Beckstoffer also makes the humorously named “Hogwash” Rosé; Melée, a Grenache; Mockingbird Cabernet Sauvignon; and Semper Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

North Coast AVA includes California’s most prestigious sub-appellations and vineyards. The three million acre area includes vineyards in six counties north of San Francisco and nearly 50 sub-appellations. The Napa Valley and Sonoma County AVAs are just two of the renowned sub-appellations included in the North Coast designation, which also includes the AVAs Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Stag’s Leap and Rutherford, which are all among the most acclaimed wine producing districts in California. The North Coast AVA designation is generally used for wines made by blending grapes grown in several counties or AVAs. The appellation includes part of the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Solano and Lake.