Stag's Leap Wine Cellars : Artemis 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Artemis 2021 from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Tasting

Nose
The bouquet reveals seductive aromas of boysenberry and plum, accompanied by notes of blackcurrant and chocolate.

Palate
The entry is rich and creamy, followed by a fresh, fruity mid-palate, supported by persistent, silky tannins.

Food and wine pairings

This Cabernet Sauvignon pairs perfectly with grilled meats such as tri-tip, braised beef short ribs, or pasta dishes with wild mushrooms and prosciutto.

Serving and cellaring

A serving temperature between 16 and 18 °C will fully reveal its complex aromas.

An exceptional Californian Cabernet Sauvignon combining power and refinement

The estate

Founded in 1970 in the prestigious Stags Leap district in California, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars established itself on the international stage at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, where its S.L.V. 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon triumphed over the great French crus. The estate has been cultivating its historic FAY and S.L.V. vineyards under the direction of head winemaker Marcus Notaro since 2013, assisted by viticulturist Guillermo Perez. Specializing in exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons, including its Estate collection comprising CASK 23, S.L.V. and FAY, the estate embodies Californian elegance with wines that combine power and finesse, true expressions of their unique terroir.

The vineyard

Artemis draws its complexity from a blend of grapes from different terroirs across Napa Valley. The majority of the grapes (51%) come from the Atlas Peak district, complemented by parcels from the Battuello vineyard in St. Helena (14%), the Arcadia vineyard in Coombsville (12%), and the Twin Creeks vineyard in Wooden Valley (5%). This diversity of terroirs, which also includes some grapes from the Stags Leap district, gives the wine remarkable aromatic richness and complexity.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage will be remembered as the second consecutive year marked by very dry conditions during winter and spring. Harvest took place from September 9 to October 19, 2021, under conditions that posed particular weather challenges during the flowering period, requiring special attention from the vineyard teams. The mild summer, alternating moderate daytime temperatures with cool nights, was conducive to berry ripening.

Winemaking and aging

Artemis 2021 benefited from careful aging for 15 months in French oak barrels, with a thoughtful split of 33% new barrels and 67% older barrels. This approach preserves the expression of the fruit while providing elegant tannic structure. The wine was very lightly filtered at bottling, thus preserving its natural aromatic richness.

Grape varieties

The blend of this wine is based primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon (98%), complemented by small proportions of Cabernet Franc (1%), Malbec (0.5%) and Merlot (0.5%), each contributing specific nuances to the wine’s final complexity.