2021 Fait Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard St. Helena Napa Valley 750 ml

When Bordeaux native Benoit left his home for California’s Cabernet epicenter, he aimed for the top—so he positioned himself deftly alongside Andy Erickson at Ovid and Screaming Eagle. He also chose a stellar mentor in Michel Rolland—the world-famous consulting winemaker whose name is on 100-pointers by Harlan, Bond, and Araujo. The men remain close to this day.

Now Benoit is a household name among Wine Access devotees. He’s at the pinnacle of Napa winemaking, with seemingly countless 100-point scores to his name. His Cabernets can fetch between $300 and $1,300+ (seriously) per bottle. 

Las piedras means pebbles, and it’s the crushed-rock character of this site that’s made it a dream site for elite Cabernet houses. Located at the base of Spring Mountain in St. Helena, the vines were originally planted in the 1840s on property that had been a Mexican land grant. Andy Beckstoffer, perhaps Napa Valley’s most renowned grower, acquired Las Piedras in 1983 and replanted it to Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Las Piedras is just a quarter of the acreage of the famed To Kalon Vineyard, and it is the site that Benoit credits with making him want to make his own wine. Planted with Clone 4 Cabernet, the vines are lyre-trained, which lets in plentiful light and air. Benoit collaborates with the Beckstoffers on his portion, and they use shade cloth in the late season to filter the sunlight to maintain even ripening. 

Benoit made just 300 cases of the phenomenal 2021 Las Piedras. You’ll be proud to have a bottle—or hopefully multiples—in your cellar.