Stags Leap Winery 'Artemis' 2021

93 Points - James Suckling

94 Points - Decanter

ARTEMIS, named after the Greek goddess of the hunt, 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.

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING
Imagine taking an aerial tour of Napa Valley, flying over the patchwork of vineyards that have made the valley and its wines famous. The grapes for ARTEMIS are sourced from a unique collection of these sites. The 2021 blend is derived from a spectrum of fruit grown for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars by independent growers from across the Napa Valley including: 51% Atlas Peak District; 14% Battuello Vineyard in St. Helena, 12% Arcadia Vineyard in Coombsville and 5% Twin Creeks Vineyard in Wooden Valley, along with some grapes from the Stags Leap District. Each site lends its personality to the aroma, flavor, structure and texture of the finished wine. This wine is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with 1% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Malbec and 0.5% Merlot for added layers of complexity. The wine was aged for 15 months in 33% new French Oak and 67% older French oak barrels. The wine was very lightly filtered at bottling.

VINTAGE
The 2021 growing season will be remembered for being the second consecutive year of very dry conditions during winter and spring and for challenging weather during bloom and heat, cold, wind, and rain during flowering. This resulted in a reduction in yield and more variability on the clusters themselves. We had classic Napa Valley weather during the heart of the growing season with moderate temperatures and cool sea breezes in the afternoon and evening all summer. Early September saw a mini heat wave that pushed ripeness along, then a return to beautiful weather for the remainder of harvest. Berries were a little smaller than usual with loose clusters. Overall, this may be the best vintage for quality I’ve seen yet!

TASTING NOTES
The 2021 ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon offers inviting aromas of boysenberry, plum, currant, chocolate and baking spice. The rich and creamy entrance leads to a fresh and flavorful mid-palate. The wine is full-bodied with rich fruit flavors and integrated tannins that are persistent and plush.

FOOD PAIRINGS
Enjoy this Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled tri-tip, braised short ribs, or pasta with wild mushrooms and prosciutto.