Stag's Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon

Background & The Pour Man's Proof

You can't talk about the history of Napa Valley without saying the name "Stag's Leap." This is the winery that, in 1976, sent shockwaves through the wine world. Their 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon, in a blind tasting, beat out the best red wines from Bordeaux, France. This event, known as the "Judgment of Paris," is the moment Napa Valley went from being a sleepy farm town to a global winemaking superstar. Drinking their wine isn't just drinking; it's tasting a piece of that history.

This bottle, "Artemis," is named for the Greek Goddess of the Hunt. It's the winery's "Napa Valley" Cabernet, which means they are "hunting" for the best grapes from various vineyards across Napa (blending them with their own estate fruit) to create a wine that represents the region's signature style. It is, by all accounts, an icon. But it also comes with an iconic "Over $50" price tag, usually in the $75-$90 range. The question for us "Value-Driven Explorers" is: are you paying for the liquid, or are you paying for the legend?

Tasting Notes (in Plain English)

This is the "classic Napa" profile, done with elegance. It's not a jammy fruit bomb. On the nose, it’s all about dark, complex fruit: black cherry, plum, and blackcurrant (cassis), mixed with "serious" notes of espresso, baking spice, and a little vanilla from the oak.

The taste is where you feel the quality. It’s full-bodied, with plush, "velvety" tannins (that fine, chalky-but-soft feeling in your mouth). The dark fruit flavors are front and center, but it's balanced by a nice savory, earthy, or chocolatey note. It’s undeniably well-made, sophisticated, and a great example of a "grown-up" Cabernet.

Final Verdict: Would I Buy It Again?

Score: 3/5 (A "Maybe" / A Taste of History)

This is a firm 3/5 "Maybe," and it’s a tough one. Is this an excellent wine? Yes. Is it a perfect example of classic Napa Cabernet? Absolutely. Is it special to pour a glass and say, "This is from the winery that won the Judgment of Paris"? 100%. You should absolutely buy this bottle once to taste that piece of history.

But... here’s the "Pour Man's Proof." Would we buy it again? Probably not. At its $75-$90 price, the competition is just too fierce. The Napa Cabernet aisle is a crowded, expensive place. We love this wine, but we also love exploring. For this price, there are countless other fantastic Napa Cabs from smaller, hungrier producers that we're itching to try. This is a wonderful, historic wine, but it's not a "buy-again" value in a market this competitive.