United States • California • Napa Valley • St. Helena • Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carter Cellars • Los Compadres 2018

Carter Cellars – Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard “Los Compadres” Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic Las Piedras site, known for its power, structure and distinctive rocky minerality.

Terroir & vineyard

The Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is located in St. Helena, in the northern Napa Valley. The name “Las Piedras” (Spanish for “the stones”) refers to the vineyard’s distinctive soils, strewn with rocks and gravel washed down from the Mayacamas Mountains. These well-drained soils limit vigor and promote small, concentrated berries.

The site benefits from warm days and cool nights typical of this part of Napa Valley, allowing Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve full ripeness while preserving structure and balance. The combination of rocky soils and optimal exposure contributes to wines with depth, firm tannins and a recognizable mineral edge.

Carter Cellars produces small-lot, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, and the “Los Compadres” bottling represents a specific selection from Las Piedras. The 2018 Napa Valley vintage is widely regarded as balanced and structured, yielding wines with freshness, precision and excellent aging potential.

Tasting notes

Nose:
Deep and expressive, with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry, layered with graphite, cocoa, cedar and sweet baking spices from oak aging.

Palate:
Full-bodied and powerful, with firm, structured tannins. Concentrated dark fruit is supported by mineral tension and well-integrated oak, delivering both richness and precision.

Finish:
Long and persistent, marked by fine spice, cassis and a stony minerality. A Cabernet Sauvignon built for long aging, combining Napa Valley intensity with site-driven character.