2011 Fairchild Estate Stones No. 1 Las Piedras Cabernet Sauvignon

Fairchild Estate was established in 1999 when Lawrence D. Fairchild and his wife purchased land above Lake Hennessy in the Pritchard Hill area. The first commercial release was a 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon. Fairchild hired Philippe Melka as winemaker, and wine is made from Fairchild’s estate Sigaro Vineyard as well as from other vineyards, including the acclaimed Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard in Rutherford.

Las Piedras was first planted in the mid-19th century, and within a few years its grapes were being used to make wine by Henry Amstutz, one of the area’s first important winemakers. The 25-acre vineyard in St. Helena was acquired by Beckstoffer in 1983. Today it is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Beckstoffer Vineyards owns and farms more than 3,600 acres of highly prestigious grape growing vineyards in Napa Valley, Mendocino County and the Red Hills of Lake County. A senior executive with Heublein in the 1960s, Andy Beckstoffer is credited with steering Napa Valley vintners towards improving farming and the quality of the grapes used for wine. Grapes from any Beckstoffer vineyards are considered among the finest available in California.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.