Freddy R. Troya

9.5

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. — 3 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2018 | Ooooph, this is an impressive wine: extremely expressive smell with spices and flint, well balanced taste with good concentration. The sommelier told that the wine comes from grapes harvested late from high vineyards. | Paired with langoustine and chanterelles | at restaurant Alma in Oisterwijk — 4 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.1

A more tannic textural expression of #pinotnoir from #newzealand long finish. Very fine. Very elegant. — 5 years ago

Mary H

8.9

Medium body, tropical fruits, short finish — 10 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

In Roman times, the estate belonged to a family called Figeacus, main villa stood on the site of the present château. Traces of the original pipework remain. A nice blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot & Cab Franc with berry fruit aromas, cigar box spice and floral notes. This 2nd wine shows flavors of blackberry and cherry with spice and oak on soft fine tannins. Full-bodied, long finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral. Good now m, cellar over next 5 years. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Killer nose. Sweet meyer lemon, some gras, seashells and a faint hint of citrus. Substantial and deep aromas. Crushed wet stones and some flint and matchstick. More will come as it seems to be holding back. Some campfire now with air. What a palate. This is the bizness! Hugely concentrated and pure with insane depth. Green apple and citrus and unreal purity. I mean this is as pure as a fresh snow in Chamonix. Finishes so mineral and seashell inflected it’s like your sucking on a conch shell. Man I love what Fabien is doing here. Huge power and concentration but so nimble and structured. Unreal. Will see where air brings this wine. As this got air it got insanely complex and picked up finesse and even more chewy concentration. — 2 years ago

aisforalan

9.1

bright acid. roses. strawberries. sage and thyme. buy again. from main street. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A beautiful Mornington Peninsula Pinot drinking at its peak. A nice blend of red fruits and earthy nuances - M+ intensity on the palate. Again the lightness in colour belies that palate intensity - a sweet palate. Main Ridge Estate was an early producer in Mornington and remains highly rated - Half Acre being their Premium Cuvée. Bottles from this estate are not readily available even in Australia. NOTE DELECTABLE - this Cuvée is the Half Acre Not the Acre. — 3 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Semi transparent Ruby red. Aromatics of dried rose petals and violets with Sous Bois. Profound flavour intensity with savoury red cherry. Burgundian overtones. The Langtons Classification adopted Main Ridge as a top Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir many years ago - almost the original. Oak is in balance and doesn’t intrude. A very good Pinot, and probably a point or two behind their premium Cuvée, The Half Acre. Had the last one on 30/5/25. Good but not great. — 2 years ago

Harvey Hicks

9.0

Liked this one — 5 years ago