Carter Cellars Beckstoffer Las Piedras Cabernet Sauvignon 'La BAM' 2023
Tasting Notes
At the foot of Spring Mountain along the banks of Sulphur Springs Creek lies the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard - a 22 acre site renowned for its naturally low yields and gravelly loam soil. These slightly less stressed vines are closer to the riverbed and sit on slightly more rocky and well-draining soil than the ‘La Verdad’ showcasing the vineyard’s unique earthy undertones. Like a smack in the face, 'La BAM', boasts a full rich bold palate of pure black currant fruit infused with graphite, exotic spices and fresh leather undertones. Matched with sweet firm tannins from the best French barrels, this wine ends with a lengthy prodigious finish that will only get better with age.
"My favorite of the Las Piedras releases, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard La BAM is just pure Napa Valley magic with its full-bodied, deep, concentrated yet weightless style. Giving up gorgeous darker, black currant and cassis fruits as well as scorched earth, graphite, and new leather, it has ripe, polished tannins, a terrific balance of freshness and richness, and a great finish. I'm not sure it's going to match the 2021, but this is flat-out awesome juice."
99 - 97 Points ~ Jeb Dunnuck Barrel Sample
Map of the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard
The History of the Las Piedras Vineyard
Dating back to the Mexican land grants, the Las Piedras vineyard is considered to be the first vineyard planted in what is now the St. Helena AVA. In 1983 Beckstoffer Vineyards purchased the property and planted it to two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon with modern trellising. Impressed with the quality of the gravelly soil, the farm workers named the vineyard Las Piedras, which means the stones or little pebbles. The vineyard sits at the base of Sulfur Creek on the southwest outskirts of St. Helena. With a gentle slope, the site belongs to the fan-shaped flood plain created by run-off from Sulfur creek and the hillsides above. Riddled with rocks, the soil is porous and provides ideal support for the vines and when matched with excellent farming techniques, the result is remarkable dense and concentrated fruit.
