Deep ruby color; plum, black cherry, boysenberry, redcurrant, blackberry, chocolate, baking spices on the nose and palate.
Dry; comfortable, integrated, fine-grained tannins; unobtrusive acidity (3.82 pH). Full body. Creamy and rich on the initial attack, remains plush and rounded through extended finish. Refined, elegant. Blend of 98% cabernet sauvignon, 1% cabernet franc, 0.5% malbec, 0.5% merlot. Aged 15 months in French oak, 33% new. The difficult, dry vintage forced the winery to source outside their usual suppliers: 51% Atlas Peak District, 14% Battuello Vineyard in St. Helena, 12% Arcadia Vineyard in Coombsville, 5% Twin Creeks Vineyard in Wooden Valley, with remainder sourced from Stag’s Leap. Gloriously, the scramble did nothing to diminish the winery’s long-earned reputation for quality. 14.8% ABV
Artemis is named after the Greek goddess of the hunt. The winery notes, explaining all the grapes do not come from estate vineyards: “[It] is a wine that truly reflects its name. It’s the culmination of our hunt for the finest grapes from Napa Valley which, when combined with estate-grown fruit, combine to create a Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the regional character of Napa Valley with the signature style of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. This approach results in a wine of lush fruit flavors balanced by extraordinary structure and elegance. Whereas our Estate Cabernet Sauvignons showcase the distinctive characteristics of each vineyard, ARTEMIS demonstrates how astute grape selection and skillful blending can create a wine that represents the sum of Napa Valley’s best Cabernet Sauvignon parts.”
The 2021 vintage was the second consecutive year of very dry conditions, following a vintage of dry and COVID. The dry conditions also involved mixed conditions of heat, cold, wind, and rain during flowering. The result was a reduction of yield—which can lead to quality even as vineyard managers pull their hair out. Fortunately, harvest was classic and Napa beautiful Moderate temperatures, cool sea breezes in the afternoon and evening. A brief September heat wave nudged ripening. The winemaker noted: “Berries were a little smaller than usual with loose clusters. Overall, this may be the best vintage for quality I’ve seen yet!” In wine viticulture, in all farming for that matter, you never know what you are going to get until you get it.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars began in 1970 with the purchase of the S.L.V. vineyard. Six years later it made history with the top-ranked cabernet sauvignon at the famed “Judgment of Paris.” Today, the website notes: “The vineyard team, led by Guillermo Perez, ensures that the vineyards live in harmony with the natural environment surrounding them; they promote a healthy ecosystem in which the vineyards and local flora and fauna thrive. Head winemaker Marcus Notaro and his team produce inimitable Stags Leap District and Napa Valley wines of classic beauty from the attentively and meticulously farmed vines.” Jorge Ramirez Perez and Luis Contreras are the winemakers; Guillermo Perez is the senior vineyard manager.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2021 is supple, well structured, velvety, plush, well-behaved, sophisticated. Gentle power, not an alcohol and oak fruit bomb—that has never been the Stag’s Leap style. Very approachable easy drinker. A reason the world comes to Napa for high quality cab at a reasonable price—yes, this touches three figures, but that is a bargain for such quality. Pair with quality beef—ribeye, braised short ribs, tri-tip sirloin cut against the grain, seared filet mignon with sautéed mushrooms. Lamb. Pasta dishes with wild mushrooms and prosciutto. Charcuterie board. Cheese—aged cheddar, aged gouda, gruyère, parmigiano-reggiano, blue cheese, sheep’s milk cheese (Oasau-Iraty, San Andreas. Avoid soft-ripened cheeses such as brie, triple-cream, camembert, also young goat cheeses. $85-110
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars website
