2017 LPV Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Such beautiful blue fruit with crushed stones and violets on the nose. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and refined, polished tannins. Yet, it’s always muscular. True to form with balance.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
There are two releases from the Las Piedras Vineyard just outside of St. Helena, the LPV and the Colesworthy. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard LPV is a slightly larger production cuvée and has terrific, complex notes of blueberries, bay leaf, blood orange, and liquid violets. I always find a floral note from this vineyard, and it’s certainly present here. Deep, powerful, and opulent on the palate, it has terrific tannins, no hard edges, and a beautiful finish. I love it even today, yet I suspect it will develop even more complexity with 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.
Schrader’s “LPV” comes from Beckstoffer’s Las Piedras vineyard, produced from 337 clone grown on the C block. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, it was aged in 100% new oak for 20 months. Very deep purple-black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Lpv opens with a profound nose of pure cassis, kirsch, blackberry pie and bay leaves with emerging scents of beef drippings, unsmoked cigars, black tea and forest floor plus an undercurrent of molten chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with red berry accents, framed by a refreshing line of acidity and firm, grainy tannins, finishing with a lively lift. 217 cases were made.
This is tight and linear with blackberry, blueberry, gun-metal and lavender character on the nose and palate. Full yet tight and bright. Extremely long.
About the producer
Schrader Cellars is one of Napa’s cult names. It focuses on pairing specific clones with the perfect site to produce the ultimate expression of Napa Cabernet. The results regularly receive the very highest scores from critics, with 19 100-point scores from the Wine Advocate to date.