Wine Review – 2019 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis

A big, bold California Cabernet Sauvignon that lives up to the billing.

Bottle Presentation

Clean, classic label with a distinct, recognizable image of a stag (what else would it be, given the winery’s name?). We appreciated the embossed bottle, which adds a touch of class.

Appearance

Clear, deep garnet

Nose

Clean, pronounced intensity nose, with black cherry, blackberry, vanilla, dry wood, unsweetened chocolate, spearmint, tomato leaf, anise, and violets. We’d consider this a youthful wine that has yet to develop tertiary notes. The alcohol was also noticeable.

Palate

Dry, full-bodied, high acidity, medium-plus tannins, and high alcohol. Pronounced flavour intensity with notes of sour black cherries, blackberries, blueberries, dark plums, smoke, dry wood, unsweetened chocolate, spearmint, tea leaf, and menthol. Interestingly, we detected more fruit notes in the mouth compared to the nose.

Finish

A long finish, ending with spearmint, menthol, and tea leaf.

Overall Impressions

We thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this 2019 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. It offered plenty of complexity, though, in our opinion, it remains youthful. We look forward to seeing how this vintage evolves over time, especially as tertiary notes develop. The length was impressive, as was the flavour intensity. Balance, however, was a bit of an Achilles’ heel, with pronounced alcohol on the nose and palate. Although this is not uncommon for the alcohol content (15% abv), it could have been better integrated.

We paired this offering with grilled filet mignon. Although it paired well overall, it was somewhat overpowered by the Montréal steak spice and dipping sauce, which came as a bit of a surprise. We actually preferred this wine on its own, as this allowed its vibrant character to shine. Overall, considering the balance, intensity, complexity, and length, we’d consider this a very good wine.

Artemis is one of many labels produced by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. Although we haven’t had the opportunity (or privilege) to sample some of their other Cabernet Sauvignons, we have an eye on the S.L.V. and Fay lines, and we look forward to tasting them soon, preferably at the winery. We’d also love to try the S.L.V. Cabernet Franc to see what Stag’s Leap has produced in terms of this outstanding varietal.

Ratings

Overall Rating: 91/10

E-Wine rating: 3/5. We’d definitely purchase a second bottle, as it is drinking beautifully now. As for a case, there are plenty of options available, including others from Napa Valley and surrounding appellations.

Value: 4/5