Gemstone Facets

2005 Gemstone Facets Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

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.(90 WA)

Wine Advocate - An absolutely gorgeous wine (900 cases produced) 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. I hope people discover these great wines made by winemaking consultant Philippe Melka for owners Paul Frank and his wife, Suzie. They sell much of the fruit from their vineyard, which is located on the Silverado Trail side of the Yountville sector. In fact, it is actually just south of Screaming Eagle and closer to Oakville than Yountville. These are stunning wines and all promise long life. The flagship wine is their Gemstone Proprietary Red, which is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, and the other wine, Facets, usually a rather Bordeaux-styled blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, but with significant proportions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.-95 points Robert Parker.

Wine Spectator - Super rich 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.-92-94 Points James Laube

To order, please e-mail:
keng@solera.com.hk