Gemstone
Paul and Suzie Frank were looking for "a Bordeaux-like site" when real estate superbroker and Screaming Eagle proprietor Jean Phillips told them about this vineyard on a west-facing slope in the northeastern corner of the Yountville appellation. Planting began in 1993, and there are now 17 acres of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Andy Smith, who also makes the DuMol wines, took over winemaking here in 1998. Fermentation temperatures are kept on the low side and extraction is moderate; the 2001 spent 31 days on its skins ("to allow the tannins to migrate to the back of the palate," according to Smith). Only the cabernet sauvignon gets further maceration after the alcoholic fermentation has finished. Gemstone uses 70% to 75% new barrels from Burgundy coopers, avoiding heavily toasted levels. The Franks currently use only the best 20% or so of their vineyard blocks, bottling 300 to 400 cases of wine under their label and selling off the rest. Smith noted that the soil features low levels of potassium, so the fruit has a good acid balance and has never needed to be acidified.
From Focus on California (May 2003) by Stephen Tanzer
1999 Proprietary Red Wine Yountville
Release Price: $85
Color: Red
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2000 Proprietary Red Wine Yountville
Release Price: $85
Color: Red
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2001 Proprietary Red Wine Yountville
Color: Red
00
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