Benoît Lahaye
Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin
Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru 2022
Rich but great acidity. Makes this wine excellent. Long finish. Superb — 2 years ago
Benoît Déhu
Extra Brut Cuvée Cuvée L’Orme
Hadn’t had Dehu in a while. Delicious. — 4 years ago
Fontamara
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Au manoir richelieu au mariage de Benoît — a year ago
Benoît Déhu
Initiation Brut Nature Champagne Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier
One of the best nv brut bottlings I’ve had in a while. Bready and yeasty with some nice citrus . Excellent — 3 years ago
Fait-Main
Las Piedras Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
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. — 5 months ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Time to open one of these 2017’s.
This very pleasant. Nicely Rounded out with 7 yrs or so in bottle.
The mouthfeel shows nice viscosity. It is round & a little waxy. Shows beautiful honeysuckle notes, golden apple, Meyer lemon, light lime juice, not quite pineapple syrup, green apple is late to the party, pink grapefruit w/ a light sprinkle of sugar, mango, some green melon, marmalade fruits quality-orange peel, yellow peaches, dryish apricots, warm caramel, dry chalk-limestone powder, fine grain, grey volcanic minerals, saline, soft flintiness, hints of white pepper, sea fossils, light saline, warm, well done toast, white flowered, yellow lilies, excellent acidity with a round, lush, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on beautiful minerals.
Really excellent with the Jasper Hill Farms Champagne Washed Harbison. Limited release. Might be the best pair w/ this cheese to date. — 4 months ago