Stag's Leap Cellars-'91 'Cask 23' and '04/'05 'Artemis'

[noreservations]

What memories of the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1991 'Cask 23'. Back in the collecting years I was able to purchase two bottles for well less than what one bottle of 'Opus' commands now at the winery(with $30-$40 to spare)..Ah, the days. This beauty was among my most memorable from ANYWHERE and on my personal short-list of eye-opening proprietary bottlings that made me love the good ole' grape juice as much as I do. Having finished the second and last bottle about this time in '08, those are now gone but I have a question about now:

I've heard from some and read that the winery "changed" some years after this...is this true and if so, how? There seems to be a lot less affection for their bottlings. Is this because of some of the prices or perhaps because of a slip in quality in what was once a sure shot?

I ask these questions because I noticed the '04 'Artemis' on a wine list of a favored local restaurant for $65...but the '05 'Artemis' on another rather superb restaurant's list for $110. The first is a more modest Italian restaurant that prices their bottles(and food for that matter) quite reasonably and thus gains ALOT of customer goodwill. The second restaurant, while definitely "stepped up" cuisine of the same kind, is among the best to dine at but they definitely price their wine accordingly.

Is the '04 a "relative bargain" or is the '05 just ridiculously priced? What could someone who has only twice had the classic '91 'Cask 23' expect from the 'Artemis'? Is the '04 that much a lesser wine than the '05(thus the pricing)? At $65 for the first, would you snag or pass this on a wine list for that somewhat "special" meal? Thanks for any of your thoughts......

[invinotheresverde]

I'd save your money. Artemis is one of the few wines that I actually find unpleasant to taste. It literally tastes "bad" to me.

There's always too much earth AND overripe fruit, which makes for an unpleasant balance, not enough acid and lack of anything resembling a spine. There is virtually no finish. It drinks very ordinarily to me.

I'd pass on both vintages. Go grab a Cask at a wine shop for the restaurant's '05 Artemis price, if your heart's set on SL.

[noreservations]

Appreciate the insight IVTV. I'm certainly not "hell bent" on just getting a Stag's Leap(especially now with hearing your take) but I was certainly curious as to their supposed "changes" since my own experience was perhaps during a "better time". Much too much out there that I have yet to try so I'll no doubt pass on this one.

I enjoyed that 'Cask 23' but I'll just move on and add that to the many other wineries that were once worth every sip then...but that I am probably not missing much with now. I now recall having a 'Fay' of theirs around the same vintage but I'm rather amused to see that this bottling now goes for the same price that I once could get 'Cask 23' for. My how things have changed.

With the huge difference in the price of the 'Artemis' on those lists, it's certainly saying something about the VERY different pricing policies of restaurants.

Thanks again.