Carter Cellars 2022 Cabernet Beckstoffer Las Piedras “La Verdad” Oakville, Napa Valley- 98 Points

Russell Bevan: “One of our most highly sought-after wines, the 2022 ‘La Verdad’ is an extremely low-production wine from our original block of stressed vines on the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard. Inky and dark in the glass, the nose emits a show-stopping rush of mouth-watering black cherry and blue fruits. The first taste is a pleasurable attack on the senses, bursting with concentrated dark black and blue fruits, mixed with crushed earth and spicy floral undertones. Year after year, the underlying structure and earthiness result in a muscular but well-balanced Cabernet. A full-bodied mid-palate reveals finely integrated tannins that lift the overall backbone of the wine and end with a textured and lengthy finish.”

IWR 98 Points: “The 2022 ‘La Verdad’ comes from Carter’s original block in the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard. It is a colossal wine, dark and inky, bursting with aromas of black currants, Crème de Cassis, and blueberries which are accented by fresh violets, graphite, crushed gravel, mocha, exotic spices, and earthy nuances all exploding from the glass. On the palate, this is full-bodied, layered and opulent, with big polished tannins and a deep concentrated core of ripe dark fruits that expand seamlessly through the long, enveloping finish. This is an absolutely mesmerizing wine that is already extremely impressive and should continue to offer an incredible drinking experience for years to come.”