2010 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis

(13.5% alcohol): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of black raspberry, cola, chocolate, menthol and licorice. Fine-grained but on the cool side, with sweet raspberry and spice flavors complicated by medicinal menthol and herb notes. Boasts good inner-mouth energy but comes across as a bit clenched and green on the firm back end.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis is laced with sweet red berries, plums, flowers, mint and cloves. It is an attractive, medium-bodied wine to drink over the next decade plus, once the tannins begin to soften. Today the 2010 is a bit compact. The Artemis is made from both estate and purchased fruit.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis is laced with sweet red berries, plums, flowers, mint and cloves. It is an attractive, medium-bodied wine to drink over the next decade plus, once the tannins begin to soften. Today the 2010 is a bit compact. The Artemis is made from both estate and purchased fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. These 2010 Cabernet Sauvignons from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars are just as exciting from bottle as they were from barrel last year. The improvement in quality that has taken place here over the last few years is simply remarkable. I also tasted several samples of the 2011s, but as was the case at many addresses, the wines were too raw and unfinished to properly evaluate. Unfortunately, there will be no 2011 Cask 23. Tel. (707) 944-2020; www.cask23.com