This Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is an exceptional expression of the 2023 vintage, aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak and crafted from Clone 4 and Clone 337. The vineyard’s alluvial soils – defined by gravelly, shattered rock cobbles – are exceptionally well-drained, lending the wine its precision, focus and refinement. This is exactly what one hopes for in a top-tier St Helena Cabernet Sauvignon: high-toned, bright acidity, a super-fragrant volcanic mineral character and an immediate sense of freshness and lift. The palate shows beautifully mixed red berry fruit framed by ultra-refined, fine-grained tannins that are seamlessly integrated even at this early stage. The tannins are very much present, yet so polished they are almost imperceptible until they gradually build through the long, lingering finish, marked by subtle Indian spice nuances and poise-driven length. (JC)