Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Fait-Main – Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023
St. Helena – Napa Valley – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the iconic Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard in St. Helena. Crafted by Benoît Touquette (Fait-Main), this 2023 vintage is a powerful yet precise expression of Napa Valley Cabernet, emphasizing vineyard character, concentration, and structural integrity. Las Piedras’ rocky soils and warm site deliver intensity, while Touquette’s restrained hand preserves balance and clarity.

Aromas & Flavors
Dense and focused aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry compote, and ripe plum lead the nose. The palate follows with layers of dark cherry, cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and subtle espresso. Secondary notes of cocoa, cedar, and sweet spice emerge with air, adding depth without overshadowing the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and commanding, with firm, muscular tannins that give the wine its signature “bite.” The texture is polished but unapologetically powerful, carrying weight and concentration through a long, structured finish. This is a Cabernet built for longevity rather than immediacy.

Food Pairings
Grilled or dry-aged beef, lamb chops, braised short ribs, or mushroom-driven dishes. Also excellent with hearty, umami-rich preparations that can stand up to the wine’s structure.

Verdict
A serious, no-compromise Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated, structured, and expressive of both site and winemaker. This is not a casual pour, it’s a wine that demands attention and rewards patience.

Did You Know?
Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is known for its rocky, iron-rich soils, which naturally limit vigor and contribute to the wine’s intense structure, minerality, and age-worthy tannins.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This wine has punch and precision. Dark, deep, and unapologetically bold, with a real bite that reminds you that you’re drinking something special. A standout Cabernet that shows why Las Piedras and Touquette are such a formidable combination. — 2 days ago

Frank Soldano

9.4

Clear golden color. Fruit forward bouquet with light floral notes. Smooth rich flavors. Very low tannins with a light mouthfeel. Very nice wine. — 6 months ago

Traci

9.4

💪👍 She's so lovelyyy. Sweet, smooth, robust. — 7 months ago

Paul T HB

9.8

First time having this Schrader, 💯 from Jeb review, too early for me to give a perfect score but still a fantastic wine only made in Mags.

A barrel selection released only in magnum, similar to the Old Sparky release, yet only from the Las Piedras Vineyard, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Colesworthy Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is another perfect wine from this team, and it’s one of those wine where I wish I could pour ever reader a taste. Offering up thrillingly pure notes of crème de cassis, perfectly ripe blueberries, chocolate, and a crazy, liquid rock-like minerality, it hits the palate with a full-bodied, powerful style that carries tons of richness and depth, yet still just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It’s certainly one of the greatest Napa Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve ever tasted. As with the base Las Piedras Vineyard, do your best to hold off for a few years.
— 12 days ago

Joe Flo

9.5

Very good considering what was suppose to be an irregular and somewhat weak vintage. — 4 months ago

Karen Lowenstein

9.3

This was rich and delicious especially with a tasty steak kabob. — 7 months ago

Joe Flo

9.5

Much better than I expected for a 2011  — 12 days ago

Raul Puga

9.4

Huge wine but well balanced and really delicious — 2 months ago

Joe Flo

9.8

Just a great winery. If they just had smaller bottles. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

One of the best wines and Cabernets in the tasting. Made by Sam Kaplan. 95-97 with 10 years of proper cellaring.

It is blended from the following sites; Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard, Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard, Weitz Vineyard, and Oakville Ranch Vineyard. Not inexpensive $300.

The name, Memento Mori, is taken from an ancient Latin philosophy that reminds us of our mortality and the inevitability of death. So, forgo patience, I guess?

WS Grand Tour Las Vegas 2025. — 7 months ago