Vineyards & Winemaking
Imagine taking an aerial tour of Napa Valley, flying over the patchwork
of vineyards that have made the valley and its wines famous. The grapes
for ARTEMIS are sourced from a handful of these sites spanning from the
Mount George area in the south to just north of the town of Calistoga.
The largest portion of the 2008 blend is from the Rutherford/St. Helena
area with accents from our estate FAY and S.L.V. Vineyards in the Stags
Leap District. We purchase grapes only from independent growers whose
vineyards are farmed to our rigorous standards; each site lends its
personality to the aroma, flavor, structure and texture of the finished
wine. A small amount of Merlot was blended with the Cabernet
Sauvignon for another layer of complexity. The 2008 ARTEMIS was
aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (55% new).
Vintage:
The 2008 growing season was like a scary movie with a happy ending.
A hard frost in April and heat spike in May, during bloom, greatly
reduced vineyard yields. The frost – the worst in the memories of many
Napa Valley vintners – had us up for 22-plus nights, monitoring our
frost protection needs. Another heat spike in the first week of September
caused concern, yet Mother Nature provided a reprieve and gave us a
cool, calm harvest the rest of the way. Although yields were lower
than normal due to poor bloom and set, the concentration and flavor
development in the grapes was outstanding, and we made beautiful
wines despite the challenges.
| Wine maker notes |
ARTEMIS, named after the Greek goddess of the hunt, is a wine that truly reflects its name. It’s the culmination of winemaker Nicki Pruss’ search for superior-quality Napa Valley grapes which, when combined with estate-grown fruit, meld into a Cabernet Sauvignon that mirrors the depth, structure and elegance of our limited-production estate wines. Whereas our Estate Cabernet Sauvignons showcase the distinctive characteristics of each vineyard, ARTEMIS demonstrates how astute grape selection and skillful blending can create a wine that represents the sum of Napa Valley’s best Cabernet Sauvignon parts.
Deep garnet in color, the 2008 ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon offers black cherry and cassis tones and a velvety texture to the tannins. The wine delivers great depth and fruit concentration without heaviness on the palate. The incredible combination of vineyards in this blend shows the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars signature style of balance, elegance and restraint. The bright fruit, firm structure and balanced acidity allow this wine to pair well with food. Enjoy it with braised short ribs or filet mignon with a Cabernet green peppercorn demi-glace.
alcohol by volume: 14.5% |
| Technical notes |
Harvest Dates: Sept. 4 – Oct. 8, 2008
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.76
Titratable
Acidity: 0.58g/100ml
Barrel Aging: 18 months
55% new French oak
Blend: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon
2% Merlot
Appellation: Napa Valley
Release Date: Winter 2010
Suggested
Retail: $55 per bottle |
