Stags Leap Cellar Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L

Description

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in magnum format, bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV. The 2021 vintage earned 94 points from Decanter and 93 points from both James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast, reinforcing Artemis as one of Napa’s most consistently acclaimed Cabernets in its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5% | Origin: Napa Valley, California | Varietal: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Petit Verdot | Producer: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars | Format: 1.5L Magnum

Production & Heritage

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars rose to international fame after winning the 1976 Judgment of Paris, a blind tasting that forever changed the wine world’s perception of California Cabernet. Artemis, named for the Greek goddess of the hunt, draws fruit from a carefully curated set of Napa Valley vineyards. In warmer vintages, the winemaking team shifts sourcing toward cooler, higher-elevation sites to maintain balance between ripeness and freshness. The wine ages for 15 months in a combination of 55% new French oak and 45% older French oak barrels, producing integrated structure without overwhelming the fruit. The 1.5L magnum format allows for slower, more graceful aging compared to a standard 750ml bottle.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Boysenberry and dark plum lead, followed by currant and baking spice. Deeper inhales reveal cocoa, sagebrush, and a hint of perfumed violets.

Taste: A rich, creamy entry gives way to a fresh and layered mid-palate built around blackberry, cherry, and graphite. The wine is medium- to full-bodied with precise, superfine tannins. Tobacco leaf and loamy earth add savory complexity beneath the dark fruit core.

Finish: Persistent and plush, with integrated tannins carrying flavors of dark chocolate, iron, and black cherry well past the final sip. The oak influence remains supportive rather than dominant, leaving a clean, mineral-edged close.

How to Drink Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon

Pour at cellar temperature (6065F) and decant for 3045 minutes to let the full aromatic range open. The magnum format makes Artemis a natural centerpiece for dinner gatherings. A classic Cabernet with grilled lamb chops pairing lets the savory tobacco and earth tones shine. For a cocktail-adjacent approach, Artemis works beautifully in a refined Cabernet Sangria built with brandy and seasonal stone fruit, a Claret Cobbler served over crushed ice with orange and berry garnish, or a simple Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water for warm-weather sipping.

Best For

• Hosting a dinner party where the magnum format serves 1012 guests generously
• Gifting a Napa Valley wine collector who values large-format bottles for cellar aging
• Pairing with a holiday prime rib or braised short rib dinner
• Celebrating a milestone anniversary or special achievement with a statement-sized bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? Artemis delivers dark fruit blackberry, boysenberry, and cherry layered with graphite, cocoa, tobacco, and baking spice. It is medium- to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a persistent, plush finish.

How does Artemis compare to Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are benchmark Napa Valley Cabernets in a similar price range, but Artemis tends toward a slightly more restrained, savory profile with graphite and tobacco notes, while Far Niente typically emphasizes richer, rounder dark fruit and mocha flavors. Artemis also carries the legacy of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars name and the 1976 Judgment of Paris victory.

Is Artemis good for cellaring? Yes the 1.5L magnum format is ideal for aging because the larger volume-to-air ratio inside the bottle slows oxidation, allowing the wine to develop more gracefully over 815 years in proper storage conditions.

Where is Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon made? Artemis is produced by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, located in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, California. The fruit is sourced from multiple select Napa Valley vineyards chosen for their ability to contribute freshness, depth, and site-specific character.

What foods pair well with Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine’s savory tobacco and earth tones. Braised beef short ribs mirror its rich, dark fruit concentration. Aged Gouda or Comt cheeses echo the cocoa and spice notes. Mushroom risotto highlights the loamy, earthy undertones. Dark chocolate truffles make a satisfying dessert match for the wine’s cocoa and berry finish.

What sizes does Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon come in? Artemis is widely available in standard 750ml bottles and this 1.5L magnum format, which is equivalent to two standard bottles.

Is Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon worth the price? Artemis positions as a mid-premium Napa Valley Cabernet, sitting above entry-level options but below the winery’s single-vineyard bottlings like Fay and S.L.V. With consistent scores of 9294 points from major critics, it delivers strong value relative to comparable Napa Cabernets at similar price points.

Why Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon?

Artemis stands as the most accessible wine in the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars portfolio that still reflects the house style responsible for one of the most important moments in wine history. The multi-vineyard sourcing strategy shifting toward cooler, higher-elevation sites in warmer years gives the winemaking team a level of vintage-to-vintage consistency that single-vineyard bottlings cannot always achieve. With 94 points from Decanter and 93 from Wine Enthusiast on the 2021 vintage, Artemis continues to earn critical recognition alongside commercial success. In the 1.5L magnum format, it gains additional aging potential and serves as one of the most compelling large-format Napa Cabernets available at its price level.