INSIDER'S PICK: 2015 THE 75 WINE CO./TUCK BECKSTOFFER WINES SAUVIGNON BLANC $15.99

The Beckstoffer family is wine royalty in modern California wine history. As Mondavi or countless other winery owners get most of the glory, the importance of the farming side is often overlooked, with the Beckstoffers one of the few superstars. In the mid-1960 Tuck's father Andy moved his family from Richmond, VA to Napa as part of the Heublein Company, which had purchased several prized vineyard sites in Napa. Over the decades the vineyard management company grew to own and farm over 2,500 acres in Napa, Mendocino and Red Hills, providing fruit for some of the most acclaimed wines in the 80's and 90's. While many of you may not recognize the Beckstoffer name at first, if you browse the client lists from their vineyards, you will undoubtedly know the wines that use their fruit. Tuck has followed in the family business, but also moved into the winemaking side about 20 years ago, taking his extensive vineyard knowledge into growing and acquiring grapes for his own projects. The 75 Wine Co. label is more of an entry level label (named after the year he returned to Napa to begin working in the wine industry full time), using mostly sourced fruit from various appellations yet still show great distinction.

A pale green/gold color in the glass, the aromas are much more in the zesty citrus and stone fruit world than juicy or tropical, with lots of lime,  citrus flowers, and fruit skin tones like pear and peach. The aromas definitely give a sense of the wine being from 'cool climate' sources like Mendocino and Red Hills/Lake County, which provides fruit with crisper fruit aromas and more natural acidity, and the palate definitely shows that off as well with an almost Loire-like racy texture and cool minty vibrancy. There is a touch of the New Zealand style gooseberry fruit on the finish, just enough to give a tanginess to the palate but does not dominate the flavors at all. This is a refreshing crowd-pleaser that works well with lighter cheese and seafood dishes, perfect for early Spring drinking!

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