Hello A - List Friends,                                                            

I know the A-List has been busy with some serious projects lately.  I have been absolutely tickled about some of the Cabernet projects I have recently featured from Grace Family, Hundred Acre, Kapcsandy and of course my Taste of Oakville Report.  I got word from Gemstone late yesterday that the new release is ready to roll and boy did that energize me like a double espresso from my favorite new coffee called 11 Roasters (more on that soon).

Shoot me email at tanya@winestreet.com or give me a call at 760-431-8455 or toll free at 877-653-2162 to get your hands on a couple of these before they're gone!  Cheers,  Tanya

P.S.  Not local to San Diego and concerned about the heat?  We offer free climate controlled storage on all purchases over the summer. We can also ship 2 day or overnight, if preferred.

Gemstone has been called  

“One of the Stars of the Vintage” 

by Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate and featured in 

Wine Spectator's  

“California’s Highest Scoring and Hardest-to-get-Cult Wines”. 

Facets of Gemstone 

2005 Proprietary Red   

$95

Stunning, rich, fullbodied, and well-structured, this Cabernet based blend is plump and rather sexy with luscious blackcherry-currant fruit, chocolate, espresso bean and baking spices.  This is seamless with the richness, elegance and silky texture that is a hallmark of the incredible talent of Philippe Melka.  50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 11%  Petit Verdot from the Gemstone Vineyard in Yountville where rocky slopes yield only a minuscule crop of intensely flavored small berries. This offers beautiful purity, a solid mid palate with a core of ripe black fruit and a long, lingering finish.  While Parker gave this a solid 90 points, I stand behind this solid effort and would argue Parker underscored this baby!  Gemstone consistently gets serious scores from Parker and Wine Spectator between 94 and 96 points and with the `05 Gemstone reaching 95 points, the Facets well deserves better. 

 I am a big fan of the Gemstone wines and adore Paul & Suzie Frank (original Gemstone owners who just sold it).   When I was asked what was the “Best of Show” from my ENTIRE Napa trip in February (six big days in Napa for Napa Premiere) the answer was easy.  Facets was at the top with Kapcsandy and Switchback Ridge.  I had the `05 Facets at dinner with Paul & Suzie (Redd, Napa Valley ) and then again the following day at Taste Yountville First comparing it to many serious wines from Tor, Lail, Rocca, Tamber Bey and Kapcsandy. 

You may be asking what happens to Gemstone now that it has been purchased by Carole & Michael Marks?  Paul and Suzie will continue to serve an active roll and I am happy to say Philippe Melka will continue to craft the incredible Gemstone wines.  The good news is Paul and Suzie have more fun to play when I come up to the valley!

Wine Street, Inc.  6986 El Camino Real Suite D Carlsbad, CA     

 760 - 431 - 8455          toll free: 877 - 653 - 2162