Schrader Cellars LPV Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Schrader Cellars LPV Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rutherford appellation, bottled at 750ml. Sourced entirely from Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard—whose name translates to "the little stones"—this bottling draws its intensity from stressed vines planted to clone 337 and 20 months of aging in rare Darnajou French oak.

Quick Facts: Origin: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (Clone 337)  |  Producer: Schrader Cellars  |  Vineyard: Beckstoffer Las Piedras

Production & Heritage

Schrader Cellars has built a formidable reputation around single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings from Napa Valley's most storied sites. The LPV designation refers to Las Piedras Vineyard, a Beckstoffer-owned property in the Rutherford benchland where rocky, well-drained soils stress the vines and concentrate flavors. This 2018 is made exclusively from clone 337 and spent 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels sourced from the highly regarded Darnajou cooperage—a deliberate choice that contributes structure and aromatic complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Immediate waves of blackcurrant and briar berry greet the nose, followed by darker tones of charred steak and roasted oak. A subtle mineral undercurrent surfaces as the wine opens, reflecting the stony vineyard soils.

Taste: The entry is dense and layered, with concentrated dark blue and black fruit commanding the palate from the first sip. Mid-palate, velvety tannins carry flavors of blackberry compote and graphite, while toasted oak adds a savory backbone. The overall impression is massive yet controlled, with the 2018 vintage's warm ripeness fully on display.

Finish: Long and persistent, with lingering notes of blackcurrant, smoked earth, and fine-grained oak tannin. The texture remains plush through the fade, leaving a resonant dark-fruit signature.

How to Drink Schrader LPV

This is a wine built for the glass, not the shaker. Pour it into a large-bowled Bordeaux glass and allow 30–60 minutes of decanting to unwind the tightly wound structure. Serve at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, to let the layered fruit and oak integration fully express themselves. Given its weight and concentration, mixing is not recommended—this bottling is best appreciated on its own terms or alongside food.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Cabernet collector
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Schrader single-vineyard bottlings
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with a cellar-worthy wine
• Pairing with a dry-aged steak dinner for friends who appreciate structured reds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Schrader LPV 2018 taste like? It delivers towering concentration of dark blue and black fruit—particularly blackcurrant and briar berry—layered with charred steak, roasted oak, and graphite. The palate is massive, velvety, and rich with a long, plush finish.

How does Schrader LPV compare to Schrader CCS? Both are single-vineyard Schrader Cabernets aged in new French oak, but LPV comes from Beckstoffer Las Piedras in Rutherford using clone 337, while CCS is sourced from Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. The different vineyard sites give each wine a distinct soil signature—LPV tends toward stony minerality and dense dark fruit, while CCS reflects the alluvial benchland character of To Kalon.

Is Schrader LPV good for cellaring? Yes—the 2018 vintage's concentrated fruit, firm tannin structure, and 20 months in new Darnajou oak all suggest strong aging potential. Proper cellaring at 55°F should reward patient collectors for years to come.

Where is Schrader LPV made? Schrader LPV is produced by Schrader Cellars in Napa Valley, California, from fruit grown exclusively at Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard in the Rutherford appellation.

What foods pair well with Schrader LPV 2018? Dry-aged ribeye steak complements the wine's charred, savory notes. Braised short ribs with root vegetables match its weight and richness. Hard, aged cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda echo its depth. Grilled lamb chops with rosemary work well against the dark fruit, and dark chocolate with sea salt mirrors the tannic finish.

What sizes does Schrader LPV come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Schrader LPV worth the price? Schrader LPV positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, consistent with single-vineyard wines from top Beckstoffer sites aged in elite French cooperage. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking vineyard-specific Rutherford Cabernet with serious concentration and cellar potential, it represents a benchmark expression of its appellation.

Why Schrader LPV?

What separates this bottling from the crowded field of luxury Napa Cabernet is specificity at every level—a single clone (337), a single vineyard (Beckstoffer Las Piedras), and a single cooperage source (Darnajou). The 2018 vintage in Napa delivered warm, even growing conditions that produced ripe, concentrated fruit, and the LPV channels that generosity through the lens of Rutherford's rocky soils. The result is a wine that feels both powerful and site-driven, avoiding the generic opulence that plagues many wines at this level. For anyone building a collection around Napa's top vineyard sites, LPV earns its place as one of the most focused expressions of Las Piedras available.