Other vintages

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is a little closed to begin, offering subtle notes of crushed blackberries, kirsch, wild blueberries and mulberries with wafts of lavender, lilacs, tilled soil and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of energy and freshness, filling the palate with crunchy red and black fruits and ripe, grainy tannins, finishing on a floral note. 307 cases made.

This pulls no punches, with a lush, dark, richly fruited display of warm fig, steeped blackberry and mulled black currant flavors, while notes of baker's chocolate, tobacco and warm cast iron fill in on the finish. Shows plenty of heft, but maintains definition and focus. An impressive effort for the vintage. Best from 2022 through 2038. 307 cases made.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is powerful and dense, with plenty of the mineral and earthy character that is so typical of this site. Black cherry, plum, lavender, mint, spice and graphite all add to the wine's virile personality. Even so, the 2017 is a relatively understated Las Piedras Cabernet. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years, give or take. The 2017 has all of the aromatic nuances that are such signatures of Piedras, with terrific mid-palate pliancy, but it also seems to be recovering from its bottling a few months before this tasting.