Flora Bokma

8.9

Nebbiolo is a varietal I have rarely had. This one is from Sicily. It is gorgeous gemstone red in the glass, a beautiful transparent dark red. It smells of pepper, thyme and cherries. It looks so much like Pinot Noir that that is the taste one would expect. But Nebbiolo ain’t no Pinot! This wine tastes of cherries with fresh juicy acidity but then takes one on a direct journey to tannin land. Not velvety tannin but clean crisp tannins. A unique repeatable experience. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

@Delectable Wine this is Preciado Cabernet 2016. Inaugural vintage released a few months ago. It was not in your database. Gemstone tasting graciously arranged by Al Buis tonight! I don't know if I should really be putting a number rating to this wine. Its best days are definitely ahead of it. This is a combination of coombsville, outpost, and gemstone Vineyard fruit. At the price this inaugural vintage fetches, this wine rates a 98. Reeling it back in, reality tells me that this is a 94 right now, which means that I feel this one should be able to go 10 years, but not entirely sure as it is extremely approachable now. I do believe it will age well for the first three to five years. It has a lot of sweet black fruit right on the opening. I was getting a little bit of molasses, chocolate in the middle, herbs toward the Finish. Very solid chalky youthful black backbone. Finishes with a lot of heft, and a lot of tannin. I recorked and took one bottle that had about 50 ml missing. I plan on opening that in 2 days to see how this develops. — 7 years ago

with Benjamin, Keith and 2 others

Lucas Wittmann

9.1

A surprisingly decent Napa cab for deep skeptic of these wines in the modern era. — 7 years ago

Jason Keefer

9.4

Quintessential Yarra! Perfect structure but ready to drink now, “like eating a ruby gemstone”, good spice, juniper, red pepper. It’s great! — 8 years ago

with Natasha

John Riddick

9.1

This was a mouthful! Rich and powerful, excellent dusty tannins. Great cassis and blackberry fruit. — 8 years ago

Maddalena de Zambiasi

9.2

Precious topaz gemstone colour, rich aromas of dried apricot, ginger, dates. Balanced by a perfect freshness — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

10

1993 vintage. From Jay. the cork on this bottle was pulled approximately two hours prior to being decanted. the wine was poured immediately post decanting.
the colour of the wine immediately grabs your attention. a glorious ruby hue worthy of a gemstone. perfect translucency and frankly a joy to observe. pinot juice as perfect as it can possibly look, majestically glinting in the tables candle light. after being allowed to gently open in the glass the wine displayed a degree of feminine ferality in a most pleasant manner. with time this was complemented by fraises sauvages, crushed black forest fruits and cuban tobacco wrapper. the feral element continued to present through a very slight earthiness and tones of wild mushrooms. this eventually gave way to crushed violets and roses which eventually poured over the glass and across the table. quite wonderful. the body was full with great complexity and finesse. this wine has tremendous power. its balance was beguiling and the combination of femininity on the nose with a gracefully powerful structure and depth of fruit truly provided the best of both worlds with an astounding finish. this is an epic wine which frankly ticks every box and is certainly within its drinking window. the acidity and abundant levels fruit still mean that this wine has many years ahead of it but frankly i'd be hard pressed to hold off. in short, this is a dessert island wine. 100/100
— 10 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.6

Fun afternoon flight

2016 Sinegal reserve cab 96+
2016 gemstone yountville cab
2015 torbreck the factor — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; dark, floral currants. Ripe; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries blue fruits & dark cherries. Black licorice, lots of cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, steeped dark fruit tea, soft volcanic minerals, soft leather, crushed dry rocks, blue & purple flowers with dark fresh & withering dark florals bouquet.

The body is full. The tannins nicely round & soft. The wine is juicy, delicious & easy to drink now. Ripe blackberries, black plum, black raspberries blue fruits & dark cherries. black licorice, lots of cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, steeped dark fruit tea, soft volcanic minerals, soft leather, crushed dry rocks, suede leather, dry underbrush, mint, hints if dry herbs, woody notes, blue & purple flowers with dark fresh & withering dark florals bouquet. The acidity is well executed. The finish is round, balanced, juicy and delicious.

Photos of, their lobby, labels of the assorted different producers that make their wines there and their tasting bar.

For those of you not familiar with Le Pich, I took this from their site...Le Pich, which is the Wappo Indian term for "golden eagle," is the sister label of Napa Valley's esteemed Purlieu Wines. The wines are crafted by rising star winemaker Julien Fayard. Originally from France, Julien has lived in the Napa Valley since 2006, when he and his wife agreed to settle down by “meeting halfway” — between his home in France… and hers in Sonoma. In France, Julien worked in both Provence and Bordeaux, where he defined his core winemaking style at the exalted first growth Château Lafite-Rothschild (he even lived in Lafite’s grand château for a period) as well as at Smith Haut Lafitte. In Napa, Julien worked at Quintessa before joining Atelier Melka, where he spent five years as the Director of Winemaking. He has worked with the likes of; Lail Vineyards, Gemstone, Dalla Valle, and more.

Le Pich wines are some of the best values we've found in Napa Valley. — 7 years ago

Anna Sheffield

9.8

Delicious skin contact wine with a gemstone color — 7 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.9

This is a vintage (1978) tawny port, which I think is unique to Kopke. It was bottled in 2017, which makes it a 39 year tawny from a single vintage. This stuff is liquid nirvana. The color is a flowing andesine gemstone in the glass. The nose is cinnamon, vanilla, stewed cherry, baked peach and apple pie. More cinnamon and spice in the mouth along with vanilla bean ice cream and a mulled fruit symphony. The finish is tangy and sweet with long lasting acid. The best tawny port I have ever tasted. — 8 years ago

with Susan

Virginia Philip

9.4

Wow!! Oldie but goodie. Fantastic. — 10 years ago

Natrone Means Business

9.5

This is the quintessential wine to drink from Napa for under $80. Great blend with an awesome nose that you kind of want to just keep smelling. What a great wine! — 10 years ago

Maggie McSpedon

10

Delicious Chardonnay one of the best I've ever had, similar to gemstone — 5 years ago

Shawn R

9.4

Drank side by side with the Heritage offering. Fruit not as prevalent in comparison. Earthy and herbaceous (not bell pepper) smoke and slightly crunchy tannins. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is Purlieu’s sister winery. We were the second tasting given in their new facilities just on the edge of Napa as you approach from American Canyon.

We started our visit with a splash of their 17 Sauvignon Blanc as we toured their new facilities.

A hybrid of tropical & dry style. It has understated tropicals of mango, pineapple, white citrus, peach, cut grass, round acidity and nicely polished finish.

Photos of, their lobby, labels of the assorted different producers that make their wines there and their tasting bar.

For those of you not familiar with Le Pich, I took this from their site...Le Pich, which is the Wappo Indian term for "golden eagle," is the sister label of Napa Valley's esteemed Purlieu Wines. The wines are crafted by rising star winemaker Julien Fayard. Originally from France, Julien has lived in the Napa Valley since 2006, when he and his wife agreed to settle down by “meeting halfway” — between his home in France… and hers in Sonoma. In France, Julien worked in both Provence and Bordeaux, where he defined his core winemaking style at the exalted first growth Château Lafite-Rothschild (he even lived in Lafite’s grand château for a period) as well as at Smith Haut Lafitte. In Napa, Julien worked at Quintessa before joining Atelier Melka, where he spent five years as the Director of Winemaking. He has worked with the likes of Lail Vineyards, Gemstone, Dalla Valle, and more and his Le Pich wines are some of the best values we've found in Napa Valley. — 7 years ago

Larry Damore

9.2

Classic NAPA cab. 15.1% etoh, still prominent tannin — 7 years ago

Narelle Burke

9.9

A gorgeous red from Nappa Valley California! — 8 years ago

Mark Tebor

9.5

2012 gemstone. Nicety red wine — 9 years ago

Jamie Beckman

9.5

This wine came wearing a fur stole fastened with a gemstone button, thereby making it the fanciest bottle of wine I'd ever seen. It was an engagement present intended to be opened at a special time, but instead we drank it immediately over takeout pasta and Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs. I'm not sorry. The wine was delicious. Transcendent. Drinking it was the occasion. — 10 years ago