Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Artemis Cabernet
Napa Valley
2019
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
14.5%
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2025-2030).
In May 2026, the 2019 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis is comfortably in the heart of its drinking window, which opened in 2023 and runs through 2030. The wine has had three years to integrate after release and is now showing with excellent harmony and polish. The cassis and violet aromatics that distinguish Stag's Leap District Cabernet are vivid and expressive, and the polished tannins have softened to an inviting, comfortable texture. This is a wine to enjoy now with confidence through 2030. There is no benefit in waiting beyond the peak window, and a 45-minute decant will bring out the best of what the 2019 vintage has to offer.
The ‘19 Artemis Cabernet.
A classically elegant Stag's Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon showing cassis, violet, and graphite precision from one of Napa's most historically significant estates.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is one of Napa Valley's most historically significant estates, the producer that famously triumphed at the 1976 Paris Tasting, and Artemis has long been the estate's flagship accessible expression: a wine that captures the classic elegance of the Stag's Leap District without the price point or cellaring requirement of the S.L.V. or Fay single-vineyard bottlings. The 2019 vintage is an outstanding example of what Artemis does best. The nose opens with cassis and dried blueberries alongside violet and a ribbon of ink and graphite that is distinctly mineral and Stag's Leap in character. Dried leaves add an herbal dimension that gives the wine complexity beyond straightforward fruit. On the palate it is full-bodied with polished tannins that feel refined and sophisticated rather than grippy or aggressive. The balance is excellent across the palate, with the considerable fruit weight held in check by bright acidity and structural precision. The finish is long, the suave tannins carrying cassis and dried herb notes through a persistent conclusion that confirms the wine's quality and the classic character of the 2019 Napa vintage. Wine Spectator awarded 89 points, a score that reflects this wine's genuine quality within the broader Napa context.
The 2019 vintage
The 2019 Napa Valley vintage was characterized by concentrated, suave Cabernet Sauvignon of excellent balance and refinement. The growing season was warm with well-timed rainfall and cool harvest conditions that preserved aromatic freshness while allowing full phenolic ripeness. In the Stag's Leap District, where the Vaca Mountain range creates a distinctive afternoon breeze, the vintage was particularly compelling, producing wines with the classic district character of polished tannins, vivid cassis fruit, and mineral precision. The 2019 is widely considered one of the finest recent Napa vintages for Cabernet Sauvignon.
About Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was founded by Warren Winiarski in 1970 and achieved international fame when its 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon topped the red wine category at the 1976 Paris Tasting, an event that placed Napa Valley on the world wine map. The estate's reputation rests on producing Cabernet Sauvignon of consistent elegance, refinement, and classic Stag's Leap District character. Today the estate continues under Antinori and Chateau Ste. Michelle ownership, maintaining the house style of polished, age-worthy Napa Cabernet that made the original reputation.
From the cellar: pair with
Roasted prime rib with horseradish cream
The wine's full body and polished tannins pair classically with the richness of prime rib, while the mineral graphite note in the wine stands up to the sharpness of horseradish.
Grilled lamb shoulder with garlic and rosemary
The cassis and violet aromatics of this Stag's Leap Cabernet are a natural pairing for herb-seasoned lamb, a classic combination throughout Napa and Bordeaux.
Aged Napa Valley cheddar or aged Gouda
The wine's refined tannins and long finish partner beautifully with the crystalline richness of aged hard cheese.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 17 to 18 degrees C (63 to 64 degrees F)
- Decanting
- Decant 45 to 60 minutes before serving to open the cassis and violet aromatics and add polish to the palate.
- Cellar Storage
- 12 to 14 degrees C (54 to 57 degrees F)
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Napa Valley
Frequently Asked
What is the significance of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars?
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars won the red wine category at the famous 1976 Paris Tasting, a blind tasting where California wines defeated top Bordeaux, establishing Napa Valley's international reputation.
Is the 2019 Artemis ready to drink?
Yes. The drinking window opened in 2023 and the wine is in excellent shape as of 2026, with the peak running through 2030.
What does the Stag's Leap District terroir add to this wine?
The district's volcanic rocky soils and cooling Vaca Mountain afternoon breezes produce Cabernet with naturally polished tannins, mineral precision, and aromatic elegance that distinguishes it from Rutherford or Oakville Cabernet.
How does Artemis relate to the estate's other wines?
Artemis is the estate's appellation-level Cabernet, positioned below the single-vineyard S.L.V. and Fay bottlings. It offers the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars style and terroir in a more accessible format.