2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis
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Tasting notes
98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Malbec, 0.5% Merlot sourced from the Antinori estate vineyard on Atlas Peak (51%), Battuello vineyard (14%), Arcadia vineyard (12%), Twin Creeks vineyard (5%), estate vineyards in Stags Leap District (18%). Harvested between 9 September and 19 October. Matured 15 months in French oak, 33% new. Lightly filtered. Deep purple colour. Excellent! Nice vein of leafy freshness alongside bright red and black fruit and a bit of spice. Beautiful tannic texture – rounded and firm without being overwhelming – a nice backbone for the fruit, tea-leaf and floral flavours. Wonderful balance. (SCJ)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
A consistently good value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Malbec and Merlot. Its deep purple hue is followed by a gorgeous perfume of crème de cassis, spicy oak, and flowers. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, pure, balanced, silky 2021 that has the vintage's pure, focused, elegant style, good mid-palate depth, and a great finish.
The only one of these releases to contain purchased fruit, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis draws from such diverse sources as Atlas Peak, Calistoga, Coombsville, Saint Helena and Wooden Valley. It's rather fresh and primary, with almost grapey notes, black cherries and cassis. In the mouth, it's full-bodied and plush, with a soft, velvety finish. A nice step up in quality over the 2020 version, it should drink well for up to a decade.
Full bottle 1,312 g. 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Malbec, 0.5% Merlot. 15 months in one-third new French oak, two-thirds older French oak. 87,500 cases produced. Inky purple in colour. Vanilla and fresh cream on the nose with rich black cherry. Sweet fruit and chewy tannin on the palate. Fresh acidity. Quite a large wine with a light vegetal note on the finish. (SCJ)
About the producer
Warren Winiarski founded Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 1970 when he purchased the Stag’s Leap Vineyard in Napa’s Stags Leap District. The 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon – only the second vintage – won the famous 1976 Judgement of Paris blind tasting, rocketing the estate to fame.