Black cherry with loads of dusty cedar and violets. Still quite youthful with juicy fruit, a moderate amount of tannin and plenty of fresh acidity. Quite structured and in some ways old school although with plenty of ripe fruit to show its new world origin. A bit on the simple side but what’s there is tasty and unique.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed from Magnum. Fully resolved. Drank well right out of the gate but the fruit started to come around at the 2.5 hour mark. Aging nicely but not sure it improves much from here. Should continue to hold for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at a restaurant. Popped and let it stand for an hour while drinking a Burg. In a great place right now and drank great after an hour of air. Big wine, but balanced. I liked this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I said a year ago that decanted for an hour, probably needed 3, and frankly it was almost the same. I decanted an hour and it didn't open up and get going for another 2 .................. way too young
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted, and followed in the glass for 2 hours. quite good. some 04 cabs have disappointed. perhaps this is immune as a bordeaux blend giving it more complexity. this bottle is expressive and interesting to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took on business trip. Popped and poured after bumpy journey. Incredible nose that was full and vibrant of ripe fruit. Dark black inky look that complimented the aroma of this beauty. Rich texture that was full of dark cherries, cocoa, leather and tobacco, with definite hints of smokiness. This vintage is definitely drinking well. The finish was easily a minute or longer! this Gemstone has lots of aging ability at this point, but is outstanding to drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent. Rich, full bodied, blackberry inspired juice. Balance of this wine is just right...wonderful tannins that do not make this a fruit bomb, but a California inspired quasi-bordeaux blend. And a wonderful nose of mixed berries and Solid price/value for the quality of this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Flashy nose, this is fragrant and showy. The palate had some redder fruits of red cherries, plums and pomegranate. A subdued currant note with some soy, tar, leather, and cedar. Some oak, some anise. I am a fan of gemstone, and again, this suffered from the company it kept.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ahhh... this is what wine should be. I wish I could drink stuff like this every day. Opened 1 hour before serving (not decanted). Consumed over 3 hours while watching the final episode of Lost. Gorgeous nose of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, spice and vanilla. Just smelling this wine is a treat. Mouthwatering flavors of blueberry, currants, dark plum and sweet smoke (almost like pipe tobacco). The finish lasts for minutes. Outstanding
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
my favorite of the vertical (01-04), but i felt all the wines were a little disjointed/underwhelming. moderate oak and tannin, but forward fruit propels the drinking experience. great nose, and this showed what the bordeaux varietals are capable of from this site.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting with Jefferson Henry of Karl Lawrence Cellars (Backstreet Wine Salon): Dark purple color. Blackberry and currant nose. Black cherry, blueberry, currant and anise flavor profile. Firm tannins. Rich and full bodied. Good balance. Powerful finish with good complexity and depth. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petite Verdot. 14.8% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quickly becoming one of my favorites. Dried flowers and dark fruit nose with some smoke. Fleshy midpalate with a bright streak of acidity. Everything perfectly balanced on the juicy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wonderful wine. Full of ripe dark candied cherries, smoke and some really nice secondary flavors. I decanted for 3 hours, then tracked over 2 more. The last glass was the best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
90;86 This was the first 04 we’ve tried and it was a bit of a disappointment since we really love the 03’s and they have consistently scored in the high 90’s for us. The 04 was delicious but a bit weak in the structure compared to the 03. It also had a bit of VA that felt harsh and lively in the mouth and a touch of solvents. 93p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is simply delicious. Huge nose of Black currant and dried flowers with some graphite. Chocolate shake in the mouth with more dark fruits and a slight mineral touch. Long and smooth on the finish with enough backbone to keep it together. Hope the new ownership doesn't tinker too much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.8% alcohol. decanted. 91% cabernet, 9% petite verdot.there is an underlying pauillac-ness to this wine with the pencil lead thing going on. i liked the flowering nose almost as much as the taste. it's undeniably californian in it's fruit profile, however. it's a wee bit alcoholic, and that restrains my score for now. i believe this will resolve with some bottle age, although i tend to enjoy gemstone on the youger side of the fence; 5-8 years from vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice nose of chocolate and dark fruits. had the opulence and fleshiness of the 04's but had more acidity then some of the others. Built to last a little longer this should hold its shape well. After some air wine settled in nicely with a wonderfully long finish. Powerful yet elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of the best wines I've had in awhile California wise. Yes it's young, but hard to resist. Nose is graphite and almost a burnt chocolate/caramel. Really interesting and I found myself just enjoying the nose for awhile. This is a very complex wine with all kinds of flavors coming into play. Dark black and red fruits, lead pencil, tar, and different kinds of chocolate. My friends that were drinking it with me were blown away. This is not the level of cab they are used to and they told me I've ruined them forever now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
dark, glass coating elixir. Strong backbone, tannic but not overwhelming. This is a superb wine. decanted for about 2 hours, could have used a bit longer but i could hold back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/18/2022 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
black fruit nose, blackberry & black cherry fruit on palate, trace of tannin and good acidity. Not too complex but tasty with grilled NY strips
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2019 - brettay wrote: 92 Points
Black cherry with loads of dusty cedar and violets. Still quite youthful with juicy fruit, a moderate amount of tannin and plenty of fresh acidity. Quite structured and in some ways old school although with plenty of ripe fruit to show its new world origin. A bit on the simple side but what’s there is tasty and unique.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2018 - VinoDiver Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consumed from Magnum. Fully resolved. Drank well right out of the gate but the fruit started to come around at the 2.5 hour mark. Aging nicely but not sure it improves much from here. Should continue to hold for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2014 - SoccerMark wrote: 92 Points
This is closed down right now. You need to wait a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2014 - OCgasman wrote:
Opened at a restaurant. Popped and let it stand for an hour while drinking a Burg. In a great place right now and drank great after an hour of air. Big wine, but balanced. I liked this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2014 - SoccerMark wrote: 93 Points
Needed 3 hours of decanting before it opened up........ too young
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2014 - SoccerMark Likes this wine: 93 Points
I said a year ago that decanted for an hour, probably needed 3, and frankly it was almost the same. I decanted an hour and it didn't open up and get going for another 2 .................. way too young
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2013 - SoccerMark Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour, probably needed 3, still too young
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2012 - VinoDiver wrote: 95 Points
Took to Spiaggia in Chicago, great wine with excellent structure and fruit. Needs time in a decanter to open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2012 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
decanted, and followed in the glass for 2 hours. quite good. some 04 cabs have disappointed. perhaps this is immune as a bordeaux blend giving it more complexity. this bottle is expressive and interesting to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2012 - Bcw1989 wrote: 94 Points
Took on business trip. Popped and poured after bumpy journey. Incredible nose that was full and vibrant of ripe fruit. Dark black inky look that complimented the aroma of this beauty. Rich texture that was full of dark cherries, cocoa, leather and tobacco, with definite hints of smokiness. This vintage is definitely drinking well. The finish was easily a minute or longer! this Gemstone has lots of aging ability at this point, but is outstanding to drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2011 - jeff nowak wrote:
decanted, but clearly off from previous bottles. harsh tannin not very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2011 - kweiller Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent big flavor which mellowed after being decanted for 1-2 hours. Incrediblly smooth and rich. Great with big meats.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2010 - Knicksfan wrote: 94 Points
Dark fruit and well integrated and smooth tannin. Wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2010 - mwagner7700 wrote:
Same notes as previous bottle (5/24/2010). Last bottle and sad to see this go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2010 - Schiffy wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Rich, full bodied, blackberry inspired juice. Balance of this wine is just right...wonderful tannins that do not make this a fruit bomb, but a California inspired quasi-bordeaux blend. And a wonderful nose of mixed berries and Solid price/value for the quality of this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2010 - EMichels wrote: 93 Points
Big wine; May be too much
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2010 - King Cab wrote: 92 Points
Flashy nose, this is fragrant and showy. The palate had some redder fruits of red cherries, plums and pomegranate. A subdued currant note with some soy, tar, leather, and cedar. Some oak, some anise. I am a fan of gemstone, and again, this suffered from the company it kept.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2010 - mwagner7700 wrote:
Ahhh... this is what wine should be. I wish I could drink stuff like this every day. Opened 1 hour before serving (not decanted). Consumed over 3 hours while watching the final episode of Lost. Gorgeous nose of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, spice and vanilla. Just smelling this wine is a treat. Mouthwatering flavors of blueberry, currants, dark plum and sweet smoke (almost like pipe tobacco). The finish lasts for minutes. Outstanding
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2010 - Lanny21 wrote: 94 Points
This was delicious. Wish it wasn't the 4th bottle of the night! But I can remember greatness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2009 - sjk7 wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 91 Points
my favorite of the vertical (01-04), but i felt all the wines were a little disjointed/underwhelming. moderate oak and tannin, but forward fruit propels the drinking experience. great nose, and this showed what the bordeaux varietals are capable of from this site.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 92 Points
Tasting with Jefferson Henry of Karl Lawrence Cellars (Backstreet Wine Salon): Dark purple color. Blackberry and currant nose. Black cherry, blueberry, currant and anise flavor profile. Firm tannins. Rich and full bodied. Good balance. Powerful finish with good complexity and depth. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petite Verdot. 14.8% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2009 - GZ3 wrote: 97 Points
decanted for 1 hour. big fruit soft tannins and super long finish. a little heat, but wish I had a case of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2009 - WineForRob wrote: 95 Points
Quickly becoming one of my favorites. Dried flowers and dark fruit nose with some smoke. Fleshy midpalate with a bright streak of acidity. Everything perfectly balanced on the juicy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2009 - hiltondg wrote: 96 Points
A wonderful wine. Full of ripe dark candied cherries, smoke and some really nice secondary flavors. I decanted for 3 hours, then tracked over 2 more. The last glass was the best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2008 - brewking wrote: 95 Points
a little tannic on opening, but these mellowed nicely. A little hint of chalk and stone which i liked, nice balance and nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2008 - phenricsson wrote: 93 Points
90;86 This was the first 04 we’ve tried and it was a bit of a disappointment since we really love the 03’s and they have consistently scored in the high 90’s for us. The 04 was delicious but a bit weak in the structure compared to the 03. It also had a bit of VA that felt harsh and lively in the mouth and a touch of solvents. 93p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2008 - nvandyk wrote: 95 Points
Deep, impenetrable red. Pencil, dark fruit, chocolate nose. Big, opulent chocolate and black fruits with a very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 95 Points
This is simply delicious. Huge nose of Black currant and dried flowers with some graphite. Chocolate shake in the mouth with more dark fruits and a slight mineral touch. Long and smooth on the finish with enough backbone to keep it together. Hope the new ownership doesn't tinker too much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
14.8% alcohol. decanted. 91% cabernet, 9% petite verdot.there is an underlying pauillac-ness to this wine with the pencil lead thing going on. i liked the flowering nose almost as much as the taste. it's undeniably californian in it's fruit profile, however. it's a wee bit alcoholic, and that restrains my score for now. i believe this will resolve with some bottle age, although i tend to enjoy gemstone on the youger side of the fence; 5-8 years from vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2008 - sumshark wrote:
Very young, great potential. Decant several hours prior to enjoying the wine at this point in time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2008 - WineForRob wrote: 95 Points
Nice nose of chocolate and dark fruits. had the opulence and fleshiness of the 04's but had more acidity then some of the others. Built to last a little longer this should hold its shape well. After some air wine settled in nicely with a wonderfully long finish. Powerful yet elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2008 - G SQUARED wrote: 97 Points
One of the best wines I've had in awhile California wise. Yes it's young, but hard to resist. Nose is graphite and almost a burnt chocolate/caramel. Really interesting and I found myself just enjoying the nose for awhile. This is a very complex wine with all kinds of flavors coming into play. Dark black and red fruits, lead pencil, tar, and different kinds of chocolate. My friends that were drinking it with me were blown away. This is not the level of cab they are used to and they told me I've ruined them forever now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2007 - brewking wrote: 96 Points
dark, glass coating elixir. Strong backbone, tannic but not overwhelming. This is a superb wine. decanted for about 2 hours, could have used a bit longer but i could hold back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment