The 2006 "Gem-Year" in Review

• Gemstone 2002 receives one of the three highest scores awarded to California Cabernets in Wine Spectator's Annual Cabernet Review.
• Gemstone is invited by The Wine Spectator as a featured participant in the California Wine Experience 2006 Event "California's Highest Scoring and Hardest-to-Get Cult Wines"
• Gemstone 2003 takes the highest single-bottle bid honors ($9,000) for the fifth consecutive year at Hollywood's Winemasters Auction benefiting The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
• 5 cases from Gemstone 2003 Barrel "+12" brings $27,000 from the wine trade at the Napa Premier Auction, making it one of the top lots out of more than 200.
• Gemstone 2002 is the unanimous first-place choice at a "double-blind" tasting by a panel of professional tasters headed by Master of Wine Ronn Wiegand at a St. Helena tasting of 2002 "cult" wines.

Are we happy? You couldn't "chisel" the grins from our faces! But the credit goes to our exceptional vineyard site, our dedicated vineyard and winemaking staff, and you, our dear "Gem-Friends" for your acceptance and appreciation of Gemstone wines. Thank you.

-Suzie & Paul Frank

"One of the Stars of the Vintage"
Mr. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, December 2006

We are not only grateful to Robert Parker for his current review of our new releases but most of all to you, our valued "Gem Friends", for your enthusiastic acceptance of Gemstone and Facets of Gemstone wines.

These current releases of Facets Estate Red Blend and Facets Chardonnay are extraordinary examples of the remarkable fruit from Gemstone Vineyard and the talents of winemaker Philippe Melka.

Vintage 2004 was an intensely rich but small crop resulting in a diminished production and limited availability. Please be sure to return your order promptly to assure your allocation; we regret that it will not be possible to fill all orders.

Robert Parker describes "Facets of Gemstone Estate Red Blend 2004":
"(52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc) exhibits a similar character [to Gemstone] but more mocha, black cherry, chocolate and espresso-like notes, a plumper more lush sweetness (no doubt because of the higher percentage of Merlot) and great aromatics, texture, expansiveness and length. It should continue to improve for 2-5 years and drink well for 12-15 years." (Issue 168)

Gemstone News: We welcome Philippe Melka, who has joined the team as principal winemaker for Gemstone and Facet wines. A graduate of the University of Bordeaux, Philippe holds a geology degree and masters in agronomy and enology. He had worked in the cellars of Chateau Haut Brion and Chatuau Petrus before coming to California. We are also pleased that our dear friend Pam Starr will continue to collaborate with Gemstone. This year, Gemstone production will move to a new state of the art winemaking facility.

Ordering Information
We regret that all Gemstone and Facets wines are sold out at this time. Please visit our restaurants page for availability near you.

Please provide your mailing information on the Gemstone contact page for possible future availability; we thank you for your patience.