Jay Kline

9.2

From magnum; poured into a decanter just prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2005 Fay pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, blackberries, Poblano pepper, tobacco, leather, inorganic earth, and a pleasant mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with a nice mineral zip. What a lovely expression of Fay. In this larger format, everything is currently in balance. The acid was welcomed with the grilled ribeye and this felt more like a classic expression from the 70’s than the more modern fruit bombs. Impressed. Drink now through 2045. — 2 days ago

Ali

9.0

Pineapple finish — 21 days ago

Sean Burke

8.9

Sundance decent red — a month ago

Sean Coleman

9.7

A fruity brightness that finishes with a light dryness. Slight cherry flavoring and clean finish. Beautiful wine easily drank casually — 2 months ago

Jason Phillips

9.2

Bold nose with dark color. Smooth on the palate, with blackberries, cinnamon, black currant, and oak. Medium tannins, with a smooth finish. — 2 months ago

Nagib Nasr

9.1

At Freddie’s birthday party 🎂 — 3 months ago

with Wissam and

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

I have mentioned my admiration for this producer when Charles Hendricks was their Winemaker through 2013. 2013 is a great Napa vintage for a swan song. My last Regusci post was their Patriarch and is my second favorite Regusci vineyard. Angelo’s, I mentioned was my favorite and this didn’t disappoint.

Not many well stored Angelo’s or Patriarch Regusci’s made by Charles left on the secondary market. This one was well stored with next to no wine running down the cork.

The nose is inviting. Ripe, ruby fruits of, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries, raspberries & cherries. Dark chocolate to pudding, anise, malted milk balls, mid berry to red cola, beautiful, nicely layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, moist sage, black olive, dry stem & top soils, baking powder, tree bark with red & dark florals for days.

The tannins are still M+ but rounded & velvety. Ripe, ruby fruits of, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries, raspberries & cherries. Dark chocolate cake to pudding, anise, malted milk balls, mid berry to red cola, dark, fruit liqueur notes beautiful, nicely layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, moist sage, black olive, dry stem & top soils, limestone, dry crushed rocks, baking powder, tree bark, dark, pronounced spice w/ heat, dryish tobacco w/ ash, leather, lead pencil with red & dark florals for days and liquid violets, beautiful acidity with tall structure/tension, great length & balance and elegance that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

Outstanding.Tasted many Napa Cabernets last weekend at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Holds its own in all of them except the Harlan tasting; 94, 04, 07, 13, 16 & 20. Even Grace Family. — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Dry-Farmed, a bit of Cabernet Franc in mix, aged 20 months in mostly neutral French oak barrels. Dark Ruby red color with aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs and floral spice. On the palate flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry and cassis with espresso, cinnamon and earthy spice notes. Nice balance, lively acidity, fine tannins, long ending with fruit, cacao and tobacco spice! Nice! — 2 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2003 vintage. Opened and decanted without issues or concerns. Used a Durand to open and cork was in great shape. Tasted after 30 minutes. The usual light-medium body. Plenty of polish at the 20+ year marker with unanticipated, ruff splash of chunkiness on the finish. Approx 4-5 years away from the absolute, top of the bell curve now but, given the pedigree, could possibly absorb that timescape another 5-spot and I wouldn't argue. Drink now or later. Either or. Ain't gonna disappoint unless you swing exclusively on Napa mountain fruit vines. 7.1.26. — a month ago

S&M

9.1

06/19/26 - Was quite pale for a Chardonnay. Had sweet notes, hay and green apple. Taste was surprising with light oak but a jammy sweetness to it. M thought apple butter and S thought sweet butter. — 2 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Clear, pale gold in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced intensity primary aromas of lemon, starfruit, and citrus blossoms; on the palate, it's dry, with medium acidity, medium alcohol, medium body, and pronounced primary flavors of lemon peel, honeydew, and white pages with a long finish. This wine is balanced and intense. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. — 2 months ago

with Nellie

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Purple, ruby, hint of garnet. Amazing tobacco leaf and spice profile. Drinking beautifully. — 3 months ago

Makhanna Seerattan

9.4

Enjoyed. Rich liked too. Good flavour and not heavy — 3 months ago

Peter Montoleone

9.4

Drinking really well right now! — 5 months ago

Frank Lin

9.0

Just delicious and well balanced. Soft tannins. Lives up to its reputation. — 3 days ago

TVF

10

2022 “Poetry” — 9 days ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

As last one: citrous, Mellon and acidity. Went great with fresh Alaskan sockeye salmon — 24 days ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.4

Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of plums, blueberries, and camphor; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced intensity primary and secondary flavors of blackberries, ground coffee, cocoa, and menthol with a long finish. This wine is intense and complex. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. — 2 months ago

Scot Walker

9.2

Dark fruit in the nose with plums, black cherries, leather and blackberries in the palate. Paired well with steak au poivre. Drank in 2026, could use aeration to fully enjoy the wine. — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Artemis” Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Artemis is the gateway wine of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, one of Napa Valley’s most iconic producers, forever linked to the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris. The 2021 vintage is exceptionally polished and graceful, showcasing Napa valley-floor fruit with balance and finesse. Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with small percentages of Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot layered in for additional complexity and structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Welcoming aromas of baked blackberry, cassis, and black cherry unfold alongside cedar, subtle vanilla, graphite, mocha, and baking spice. As the wine opens in the glass, deeper secondary notes emerge while maintaining freshness and elegance.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with rounded tannins and balanced acidity. Silky textures glide effortlessly across the palate, finishing long with dark fruit, oak spice, and a refined herbaceous edge.

Food Pairings
Excellent with grilled ribeye, herb-crusted lamb, braised short ribs, hearty mushroom risotto, aged cheddar, or gouda.

Verdict
A graceful and refined Napa Cabernet that continues to demonstrate why Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars remains a benchmark producer. The 2021 Artemis is already entering a beautiful drinking window now, approachable, polished, and elegant, while still carrying enough structure to evolve further with additional aging.

Did You Know?
The original Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon won the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris, the blind tasting that shocked the wine world and helped establish Napa Valley among the great wine regions globally.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of Napa Cabernet that reminds people elegance and power can absolutely coexist in the same bottle. Cheers! — 3 months ago