Lithology 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Napa Valley 750ml

Workers gave this vineyard its name long before anyone thought to label it on a wine bottle. Las Piedras — "the stones" — describes exactly what they found: rocky, alluvial soil at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, formed by centuries of runoff from Sulfur Creek, peppered with the rocks and pebbles that define the site's distinctive drainage and stress every vine planted there. That stress is precisely the point. High drainage and high vine stress challenge Las Piedras' Cabernet Sauvignon for vigor, and the resulting fruit carries a concentration and vibrancy that the Lithology team consistently calls their prettiest wine in the portfolio.

The history runs deep. Las Piedras shares its origin with the Lithology Estate vineyard itself — both were once part of the historic Rancho Carne Humana Mexican land grant. Edward Bale, an early Napa settler, first planted the site to Mission grapes more than 150 years ago, making it one of the very first vineyards established in the St. Helena appellation. Henry Amstutz, one of California's earliest great winemakers, replanted it to wine grapes in 1860. Beckstoffer Vineyards purchased the property in 1983 and planted two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon — the foundation of what Lithology farms today.

This 2022 bottling is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced specifically from vineyard blocks A and C, harvested September 8, 2022, and crafted by the same winemaking team behind every Lithology release: Matt Sands, Philippe Melka, and Michel Rolland. Only 184 cases were produced. International Wine Report awarded it 98 Points: "a stunning wine that begins with ripe blackberries and succulent black cherries, beautifully complemented by notes of tobacco and a medley of savory herbs and exotic spices, with undertones of graphite, pencil shavings, and dust adding a fascinating minerality, reminiscent of the vineyard's unique terroir... a spectacular wine that is already outstanding and should go on to age beautifully." Bottled at 15.5% ABV, this is Las Piedras at its most concentrated and most fully realized — elegant, structured, and built to evolve for years.

Origins & Craftsmanship

The Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard sits at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains in St. Helena, on alluvial soil shaped by the runoff of Sulfur Creek and peppered with the rocks and small pebbles that gave the vineyard its name — Las Piedras, "the stones," a designation given by vineyard workers long before it ever appeared on a label. The site shares its origin directly with the Lithology Estate vineyard: both were once part of the historic Rancho Carne Humana, a Mexican land grant given to Edward T. Bale by General Vallejo. Bale first planted the site to Mission grapes, making it one of the earliest vineyards established anywhere in the St. Helena appellation. Henry Amstutz — among the first great winemakers in California's history — replanted the site to wine grapes in 1860, and it later served as the estate vineyard for the area's first winery, built by Henry Pellet. Beckstoffer Vineyards purchased the property in 1983 and planted two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, establishing the modern foundation of the site that Lithology farms today.

The vineyard's defining characteristic is stress: well-drained, rocky soils at the base of the mountains challenge the vines for vigor, producing fruit of unusual concentration and vibrancy. Lithology, the project of Argentinian-Italian businessman Alejandro Bulgheroni, has worked Las Piedras continuously since the winery's founding in 2014, alongside its sister single-vineyard sites at Beckstoffer To Kalon and Beckstoffer Dr. Crane. The winemaking team — Matt Sands as resident winemaker since 2015, working alongside consulting winemakers Philippe Melka and Michel Rolland — has remained consistent across every vintage, building a deep, site-specific understanding of what this particular ground produces year after year.

The 2022 Las Piedras Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal, sourced specifically from vineyard blocks A and C, harvested September 8, 2022 — notably ahead of the season's significant heat wave, a timing decision that preserved freshness and balance in what proved to be a challenging vintage across much of Napa Valley. The wine is bottled at 15.5% ABV, with only 184 cases produced.

Critics Reviews

International Wine Report — 98 Points:
"The 2022 Lithology Beckstoffer Las Piedras Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vineyard blocks A and C. It is a stunning wine that begins with ripe blackberries and succulent black cherries, beautifully complemented by notes of tobacco and a medley of savory herbs and exotic spices, with undertones of graphite, pencil shavings, and dust add a fascinating minerality, reminiscent of the vineyard's unique terroir. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is polished and dense, exuding a ripe sweetness that harmonizes seamlessly with its concentrated flavors. Each sip reveals layers of complexity, enhanced by a vibrant freshness and balanced acidity that elevates the wine's opulence. The long, lingering finish leaves a lasting impression of dark fruit and earthy nuances. This is a spectacular wine that is already outstanding and should go on to age beautifully."

Lithology official tasting notes (Matt Sands, Winemaker):
"A full-bodied wine with complexity and balanced acidity, our 2022 Las Piedras Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of black cherry, blackberry, herbs, and the essence of tobacco. Layered with freshness and minerality, the palate leads to a lengthy finish. This wine will continue to age beautifully."

Producer/house characterization (Las Piedras program, confirmed):
"The Las Piedras site always gives us our prettiest wine. When placed next to the Dr. Crane and To Kalon wines, the Las Piedras shows a certain elegance, with a very graceful entry and finely detailed complexity."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Deep and aromatic, with ripe blackberries and succulent black cherries leading the bouquet. Tobacco adds savory depth, joined by a medley of savory herbs and exotic spices. Graphite, pencil shavings, and dust contribute a fascinating mineral undertone — the vineyard's stony, alluvial terroir made directly apparent in the glass.

Palate
Full-bodied, polished, and dense, with a ripe sweetness that harmonizes seamlessly with the wine's concentrated dark fruit flavors. Black cherry and blackberry carry the core, layered with herbs and the essence of tobacco. Vibrant freshness and balanced acidity elevate the wine's natural opulence, revealing additional layers of complexity with each sip.

Finish
Long and lingering, leaving a lasting impression of dark fruit and earthy nuances. Minerality and freshness persist through the close — a finish built for genuine cellar aging, with the structure to evolve gracefully for years to come.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Dry-aged ribeye or porterhouse
• Roasted lamb with herbs
• Braised short rib
• Aged hard cheeses
• Dark chocolate