2016 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars ‘Artemis’ Cabernet Sauvignon

The replanting of our estate vineyards now allows us to designate a larger proportion of our own superb fruit for use in our Napa Valley Cabernet. Previously, our blend had drawn from selected vineyards in many parts of the valley to weave together its varied terrain and represent the Napa Valley as a whole. Now we are elevating our sights to focus not on a representative style, but on a balance of harmony and tension, of power and suppleness, targeting what we call the golden mean principle expressed so beautifully in our estate wines FAY, SLV and CASK 23. We chose the name Artemis to reflect this new vision for the Napa Valley Cabernet.This wine’s richness of perfume and structure reveal the blend’s higher percentage of grapes from the renowned FAY vineyard. The nose is filled with the fragrance of violets, raspberries, rosemary, and truffle, with a core of black plum. More black fruit blossoms on the palate, yielding flavors of black cherry and a touch of cassis, shot through with a delicate overtone of vanilla. The firm tannins carry through to a satisfyingly spicy finish. This beautifully balanced wine will marry well with both traditional holiday favorites, such as rare prime rib and roast turkey, and less obvious pairings, including seared Ahi or swordfish with a savory shallot sauce or a rich white truffle risotto.