Stags Leap Winery The Investor Red Blend

Description

92 POINTS – INTERNATIONAL WINE REPORT This has rich and ripe fruit flavors of blueberry, stewed prune and pomegranate. There are flavors of blueberry compote, blackberry, mocha and mild to moderate tannins. This improves after an hour of aeration. Intriguing and rich blend that is a novel effort, I love this style of new world blend. – Owen Bargreen, November 201590 POINTS – WINE ADVOCATE Named after the founder of Stags Leap Winery, the outstanding 2012 Proprietary Red The Investor is a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Petite Sirah and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit intermixed with notions of chocolate, lavender, unsmoked cigar tobacco and underbrush are present in this meaty, chewy, attractive, velvety textured 2012. Enjoy this well-made red over the next decade. – Robert Parker, October 2014TASTING NOTES Captivating for its fresh, lush fruit, elegance and classic balance, the inaugural release of The Investor brims with bright red fruit, blackcurrant, plum and blackberry. A savory, herbal flavor, with hints of spicy vanilla bean, sweet tobacco and sandalwood, add depth and complexity. The tannins are firm, but velvety, and this red blend is impressive for its power, finesse and integrity.VINEYARD NOTES Inspired by the three varietals planted on the historic Stags Leap estate, The Investor is a red wine that beautifully blends together the unique flavors and expressions of Petite Sirah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in a powerful, yet approachable assemblage with significant fruit presence. The Merlot contributes fresh red berry aromatics and a soft, velvety texture to balance the power of Petite Sirah, which adds concentration, tannins, spice and blueberry flavors. The Cabernet Sauvignon further increases the final blends complexity and depth. The majority of the Petite Sirah fruit comes from the Stags Leap estate and grapes from a diverse selection of northern and southern Napa Valley vineyards are also selected to broaden the wines floral and spicy characteristics. The Merlot is grown in Oak Knoll and Yountville, neighboring appellations in the southern part of Napa Valley, and a combination of estate and southern valley floor Cabernet Sauvignon fruit makes up the balance of the blend.VINTAGE NOTES The 2012 vintage will be remembered for its abundance of high-quality fruit. The season began with exceptional, moderate weather that brought virtually no harm to the grapes all the way through fruit-set. A cooler-than-normal period hit at the end of September, which allowed for the preservation of ideal fruit aromatics, freshness and natural acidity.WINEMAKING NOTES Maceration and fermentation followed suit for each of the three varietals, which allowed winemaker Christophe Paubert to monitor and evaluate each lot individually, coaxing each varietal to its maximum potential. The Petite Sirah aged in American oak barrels 25% new for 12-14 months while the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon went to French oak 35% new for 16 months. The final assemblage was blended just prior to bottling. – Stags’ Leap Winery