WINEMAKER'S NOTES

Rich and pure on the nose; this is a gorgeous wine with gravelly character and generous finish

PRESS

"Ripe and juicy, with firm, intense, polished black cherry, wild berry, currant and black licorice flavors that are delightfully elegant and refined. The finish goes on and on. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2010 through 2018." --JL

James Laube 95 Wine Spectator Insider, "Hot New Wines" (Aug 03, 2008)

"Superrich and stylish, with tiers of black cherry, plum and boysenberry, giving this wine an almost syrupy texture. Plush and concentrated, the flavors coat the palate."

James Laube 2005 Napa California Barrel Tasting (Aug 31, 2006)

"An absolutely gorgeous wine is the blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2005 Proprietary Red. Pure, vivid notes of black currants, crushed rocks, acacia flowers, and some subtle barrique smells are followed by a wine with hints of hot stones and a gravelly character. The wine has superb intensity, beautiful purity, and full-bodied power, but uncanny elegance and symmetry. This wine needs 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 25 years."

Robert Parker 95 The Wine Advocate, Issue 174 (Dec 28, 2008)

"Bright ruby, highly nuanced, expressive nose combines blueberry, hot rocks, spices leather and minerals: this wine smells like it’s from somewhere. Very ripe, sweet and deep, with a pliant texture to the dark berry, licorice and bitter chocolate flavors. This boasts lovely balance and slow-building persistence, and the tannins are quite suave. Promises to be the best release yet from this property."

Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar, Issue 132 (May-June 2007)

"Good full medium ruby. Superripe aromas of black fruits, mocha, flint and hot stones, with a faint herbal nuance; slightly porty. Then fat, full and soft, in a distinctly creamy style, with flavors of dark fruits, melted dark chocolate, maple syrup and cough medicine. This reminded me of a St. Estephe wine from a very ripe year. Finishes rich, chewy and powerful, with slightly dry-edged but supple tannins and notes of mocha and crushed rock."

Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar (May-June 2008)

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

Spicy and suave on the nose, the wine reveals opulence and layers of flavors of white chocolate, anise, licorice and black fruits.

PRESS

Robert Parker          93                Drink: 2008 - 2028
Wine Advocate # 180    Dec 2008
The superb 2006 Gemstone Proprietary Red  (an 890-case blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot) is from the cooler Oakville / Yountville sector of Napa. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a beautiful bouquet of subtle new oak interwoven with black currants, smoke, licorice, and a hint of spring flowers. The wine is full-bodied, with excellent density, admirable balance, and fine purity, a hallmark of this estate. It should drink nicely for two decades.

Proprietors Suzie and Paul Frank sold this vineyard to Carol and Michael Marks, but I do not expect many changes as Philippe Melka remains in charge of the winemaking. Gemstone’s 17-acre vineyard is the fruit source for these two cuvees, the Facets and the flagship wine, Gemstone Proprietary Red.

Wine Advocate # 174     Dec 2007
The 2006 Gemstone Proprietary Red is a similar blend, beautifully opulent, more fruit-forward than the 2005, with seemingly less structure, yet oodles of cassis and smoky, flowery notes interwoven with some new oak and white chocolate. The wine is spicy, full-bodied, opulent, and gorgeous, and it will no doubt age well for 15+ years.

James Laube            92-94
The Wine Spectator Web Only-2007         Barrel Tasting
Aromas of herb, currant, tar, mineral and sage give this a rich, savory character.  Dense and concentrated, this is well-focused and persistent, ending with a long, complex aftertaste.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

“The 2007 GEMSTONE could be the finest wine we have ever bottled. The 2007 season had very consistent temperatures, allowing our fruit to ripen at a very steady pace and making for ideal flavor development. Conditions like these allow us to be very selective and to pick at exactly the desired level of maturity. Our fruit was harvested in late September and early October, and after 20 months aging in 70% new French oak, the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2007 Gemstone exhibits a profound garnet color in the glass. On the nose, the wine reveals a complex bouquet of ripe blue and black fruits layered with crushed stones, exotic spice, and elegant oak; Soft and extremely rich in the mouth; it has a full body with great purity and perfect texture, soft sweet tannins and sex appeal. The wine's depth and complexity suggest a very long aging potential".  
                                                - Philippe Melka, Winemaker
PRESS

"The 2007 Gemstone Proprietary Red may turn out to be the finest wine this estate has yet produced." – Robert Parker

(95 Points) - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 186 12/2009

“The dense ruby/purple-colored 2007 Gemstone reveals notes of ink, graphite, camphor, and sumptuous amounts of blue and black fruits along with an unmistakable minerality. This is a full-bodied, dense yet elegant red possessing both power and concentration that have not compromised its ethereal characteristics. Drink this beauty over the next 20-25+ years.”    

95 points - THE WINE SPECATOR
Wonderfully complex aromas lead to firm, intense and concentrated flavors, showing a well-structured mix of black licorice, blackberry, plum and black cherry, with touches of graphite and mineral. Ends with tight, chewy yet ripe tannins that give the flavors traction. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2011 through 2022.-J.L.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

Lots of intense aromas of fresh crush stones and cacao; the mouthfeel reveals a great complexity of flavors of blackberries, licorice, graphite leads and creosote. Beautifully balanced and still extremely powerful, the wine will need to be decanted for 2 to 3 hours if drunk very young.
                         - Philippe Melka, Winemaker

PRESS

The flagship wine, the 2008 Gemstone (100% Cabernet Sauvignon even though it is a proprietary red) is a flamboyant, opulent, medium to full-bodied effort revealing stunning concentration, purity and balance. Aged 22 months in 100% new French oak, it reveals elegance, perfume and richness along with a layered mouthfeel. Already drinking well, it should evolve for 15 or more years.”
Robert Parker 94 points The Wine Advocate

An impressive mix of ripe, intense plum, currant and blackberry fruit, shaded by mineral and cedar, this is full-bodied, well-focused and persistent, long and vibrant. Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2022.
WINE SPECTATOR -J.L.  93 points

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

The wine reveals beautiful acidity and vibrancy. The flavors are based on notes of apricot, pears and anise.

PRESS

"A mouth-filling rich, creamy style of Chardonnay with intense varietal character of exotic fruits, citrus and honeysuckle framed with a stony minerality and earth with bright acids. The impressive weight of this wine on the pallet along with its subtle complex layers make this a serious Chardonnay. Because no malo-latic was induced, it should drink well for several years."

Robert Parker 90 The Wine Advocate #174 (Dec 28, 2008)

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

"We had a perfect growing season at Gemstone Vineyard, harvested mid September. The most refined Chardonnay from Gemstone Vineyard; the nose reveals bursting aromas of butterscotch, peach, apricot and white flowers layered with wet stones and anis notes in the mouth. This is a great expression of Gemstone terroir. Aging occurred in both puncheon and regular size barrels for sixteen months."
                                                     - Philippe Melka Winemaker

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

"The 2008 Facets Chardonnay reveals a mouth-filling richness and creamy texture with intense fruit elements of honeyed citrus, quince, melon and apricots. The vibrant acidity retains a balancing freshness and impressive mineral length. The 2008 harvest yielded a small quantity of exceptional fruit with very superrich and concentrated flavors."

                                                       - Philippe Melka, Winemaker

"While most of the Gemstone vineyard is planted with Bordeaux varieties, our very limited Facets of Gemstone Estate Chardonnay (only 2 barrels) is grown in a cooler section with deeper soils within our vineyard. This choice block contains Chardonnay vines belonging to the Meursault clone. This clone is quite rare in Napa Valley because it produces very small berries, and thus very small yields. The result is a Chardonnay that is rich and intense, with hints of honeysuckle. Texturally, it also possesses the racy minerality and bright acidity often associated with the distinguished wines from the birthplace its remarkable clonal selection.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

This 100% Chardonnay displays fascinating floral, pear, apricot and sweet oak notes. Generous and bold, the wine retains freshness with a great acidity. This is one great expression of the gravely-loamy site. The combination of low yields due and a much cooler months in August and September created complex flavors and great concentration. The grapes fermented in French oak (40% new) and aged for 18 months before bottled unfiltered.

                                                      - Philippe Melka, Winemaker

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

Intense aromas of crème de cassis, fresh stones and violet; the wine is pure and seamless. 

PRESS

Winemaker Philippe Melka and we agree that the 2005 vintage has produced the best Gemstone release to date. The Facets Estate Red Blend and Facets Estate Chardonnay both exhibit the richness, elegance and silky texture that is the hallmark of Gemstone Vineyard wines.

"The 2005 Facets is elegant, austere by the standards of California, and almost a dead-ringer for a Medoc from Bordeaux. The wine is dark ruby/purple-tinged with a floral, restrained nose of sweet cherries and soil and undertones of underbrush and barrique. The wine is medium-bodied, pretty, pure, and represents an attractive, French-styled blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. It should drink nicely for 10-12 years."

Robert Parker 90 The Wine Advocate#174 (Dec 28, 2008)

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

Extremely elegant nose of flint, black fruit and minerality; the wine is opulent, dense finishing with powerful tannins.
 

PRESS

Robert Parker          90             Drink: 2008 – 2023
Wine Advocate # 180    Dec 2008                
The 2006 Facets is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small dosages of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The wine exhibits plenty of bay leaf, cranberry, black cherry, underbrush, and forest floor characteristics in its elegant, medium-bodied personality. This complex, pure red could easily pass for a fine Bordeaux. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years.

Proprietors Suzie and Paul Frank sold this vineyard to Carol and Michael Marks, but I do not expect many changes as Philippe Melka remains in charge of the winemaking. Gemstone’s 17-acre vineyard is the fruit source for these two cuvees, the Facets and the flagship wine, Gemstone Proprietary Red.

Wine Advocate # 174     Dec 2007                               
Much more dramatic, richer, and more opulent than the 2005, but not losing any of its underlying elegance is the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2006 Facets. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, elegant black cherry and licorice notes are followed by a wine with some subtle oak, medium to full body, supple tannin, and plenty of plumpness and flesh. This should drink nicely for 10-15 years.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES

"Facets of Gemstone Estate Red Blend is made with the same philosophy and winemaking techniques as Gemstone; it also illustrates a unique aspect of the vineyard. My goal is to create a wine with flawless clarity of expression to allow the brilliance of this extraordinary vineyard to shine right through it. The fruit for this exceptional wine is selected from the treasure trove of 6 small estate vineyard blocks planted to carefully selected clones. Stylistically, my goal with Facets is to create a softer, vibrant, rich and luscious wine weaving four classical Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Merlot contributes softness and elegance, Petite Verdot adds backbone and structure and Cabernet Franc is a great tool for freshness, nerve and minerality. The deep, expressive aromas and flavors are filled with blackberry, fig, sweet cassis, dark cocoa, and minerality. The palate is soft and concentrated, with moderate tannins; providing for a lengthy finish."
                                                    - Philippe Melka, Winemaker

PRESS

(93 Points) - Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 186, Dec 2009  
"The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Facets (48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) offers abundant amounts of sweet black cherry and black currant fruit intertwined with soil and underbrush undertones. It also reveals the opulence and fleshiness of this vintage. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years. One of the very finest second [companion label to Gemstone] wines made in Napa.”   

"This wine is a great representation of the lower site of the vineyard where Merlot and Cabernet are planted. Fresh, intense and explosive, the aromatics reveal pure, ripe red fruits mixed with exotics sweet characters from the French oak. Rich and generous, the mouthfeel is opulent and complex; offering blackcurrant, blueberries and licorice aromas. The wine shows a great balance of seduction and power. The fruit for this exceptional wine is selected from the treasure trove of 6 small estate vineyard blocks planted to carefully selected clones. Stylistically, my goal with Facets is to create a soft, vibrant, rich and luscious wine weaving four classical Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."    - Philippe Melka, Winemaker

PRESS

(91 Points) - Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Issue 192, Dec 2010 "The 2008 Facets is showing even better than it did from barrel last year. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest tiny quantities of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (similar to many Medocs), it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as abundant aromas of sweet white chocolate, black cherries, tobacco leaf, cassis and hints of earth and smoke. Soft with silky tannins, medium to full body and a plush, open-knit style, it is ideal for drinking now and over the next 10-12+ years.

92 Points - THE WINE SPECTATOR
Bright, with ripe, vivid red berry and black cherry flavors. Medium- to full-bodied, turning delicate and elegant while displaying depth and persistence, firming nicely on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2020. 765 cases made. —J.L.