ESTATE WINES
In our vineyard, Thomas pays meticulous attention to the subtle variations among our 20 micro-blocks. When Thomas joined Gemstone, he understood immediately that our estate could support three stylistically distinct expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon, and inspired us to recast our offerings to fully honor the unique character of our vineyard.
With our 2015 vintage, we will release three limited-production estate Cabernet Sauvignon selections—Heritage, Alluvial and Ruby—crafted in the style you know and love. We hope you’ll appreciate our tighter focus on what Gemstone Vineyard does best, Cabernet Sauvignon.
2015
Gemstone Heritage Selection
Cabernet Sauvignon
March Release
NOTES
The 2015 vintage marks our 20th year of winemaking at Gemstone. Since the beginning, we have been committed to small-lot winemaking—in fact, most of our vines date back to original clippings planted more than two decades ago. Our Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon celebrates the diversity of Gemstone Vineyard. The 16 acres of our estate are divided into 20 different micro-blocks according to a wide array of soil types. Each small area is carefully matched to more than 16 different clones, including 10 Cabernet Sauvignon clones, and all blocks are vinified individually from harvest to barrel. This gives our winemaker a unique palette from across our vineyard from which to blend a complex expression of its full character.
This wine is expressive and full-bodied, with deep blue and black fruit aromas, and notes of cinnamon, cedar, tobacco and anise that balance the complex fruit expression. Although this wine is fruit forward and approachable young, its bold tannins will support aging during the next 20 years.
WINEMAKER
Thomas Rivers Brown
APPELLATION
Yountville, Napa Valley
VINIFICATION
Double-sorted, cold-soaked; whole-berry fermentation for 16 days using native yeasts; natural malolactic fermentation for 3 months; bottled unfiltered and unfined
AGING
20 months, 80% new French oak in cooperages including Taransaud, Ermitage, Francois Freres, Baron
PRODUCTION
750 cases
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2015
Gemstone Alluvial selection
Cabernet Sauvignon
July Release
NOTES
Our Alluvial Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced exclusively from the upper blocks of our vineyard that form part of an alluvial fan. This geological feature—the result of the Napa River meeting the foothills of the Vaca mountains—gives us well-draining, rocky soils with low yields of small, extraordinarily concentrated berries. Our Alluvial Cabernet Sauvignon, with its dense core, flinty minerality and forceful tannins, is a bold, focused expression of this distinctive section of our vineyard.
Rich black cherry and plum aromas lead into a hefty, polished palate, revealing notes of cocoa, spice, eucalyptus and crushed rock. Well-established tannins give structure to this powerful, balanced wine that should age beautifully for 20+ years.
WINEMAKER
Thomas Rivers Brown
APPELLATION
Yountville, Napa Valley
VINIFICATION
Double-sorted, cold-soaked; whole-berry fermentation for 16 days using native yeasts; natural malolactic fermentation for 3 months; bottled unfiltered and unfined
AGING
20 months, 100% new French oak in cooperages including Taransaud, Ermitage, Francois Freres, Baron
PRODUCTION
750 cases
pdf download
2015
Gemstone RUBY BARREL SELECTION
Cabernet Sauvignon
September Release
NOTES
Ruby Cabernet Sauvignon is our smallest-production wine, and it celebrates the smallest, newest member of the Gemstone Vineyard family, our proprietor’s daughter, Ruby. For this wine, our winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown, carefully selects just four barrels from every vintage, evaluating each individually vinified lot and blending for beautiful balance of fruit character, power, acidity and structure—a complete expression of our estate. We like to think of our Ruby Cabernet Sauvignon as honoring both the legacy of Gemstone Vineyard and the next generation of the Gemstone Vineyard family.
Inky purple-black in color, this dense and complex wine has a nose of intense cassis, blackberries and plums. A succulent, full-bodied palate reveals rich, ripe fruit characters, silky tannins and a powerful, earthy finish. This wine should age well for 20+ years.
WINEMAKER
Thomas Rivers Brown
APPELLATION
Yountville, Napa Valley
VINIFICATION
Double-sorted, cold-soaked; whole-berry fermentation for 16 days using native yeasts; natural malolactic fermentation for 3 months; bottled unfiltered and unfined
AGING
20 months, 100% new French oak in cooperages including Taransaud, Ermitage, Francois Freres, Baron
PRODUCTION
100 cases
pdf download
2014
Gemstone
Estate Red Wine
Sold Out
NOTES
The Gemstone Vineyard 2014 Estate Red Wine is comprised of four red Bordeaux varietals planted to 20 individual blocks with diverse soil types. Gemstone’s Yountville estate gives us a unique palette of fruit and flavors to craft this wine. A completely opaque purple core with a dark rose halo indicates concentration and richness. Aromatic notes of blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon and cedar bark are complimented by a robust palate profile with hints of blonde tobacco, blackcurrant, and licorice. This wine possesses a gripping minerality and beautiful tannins providing an aging potential for at least 15 years.
WINEMAKER
Thomas Rivers Brown
BLEND
69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc
APPELLATION
Yountville, Napa Valley
VINIFICATION
Double-sorted, whole-berry fermented for 35 days using native yeasts; bottled unfiltered
AGING
20 Months, 80% new French oak in cooperages including Taransaud, Ermitage, Francois Freres, Baron
PRODUCTION
725 cases
2014
Gemstone Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sold Out
NOTES
The Gemstone Vineyard 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon showcases a deep purple hue with a garnet rim. Rich aromas of black cherry, plum, cassis, spearmint, and eucalyptus jump from the glass. On the palate, intricate flavors of dark cocoa, blueberries, spice and crushed rock are present in this textured, opulent wine. The mouthfeel is polished and full-bodied, exhibiting sweet tannins that provide purity, density, structure and a persistent finish. Expect the 2014 Gemstone Estate Cabernet Sauvignon to evolve gracefully for 20+ years.
WINEMAKER
Thomas Rivers Brown
BLEND
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
APPELLATION
Yountville, Napa Valley
VINIFICATION
Double-sorted, whole-berry fermented for 35 days using native yeasts; bottled unfiltered and unfined
AGING
20 Months, 95% new French oak in cooperages including Taransaud, Ermitage, Francois Freres, Baron
PRODUCTION
500 cases