Stags' Leap Winery The Investor Red Wine 2017
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Reflective of the winery’s ability to combine power with elegance, the 2017 Investor is plush and inviting, with intense dark blackberry, black cherry, wild plum alongside baking spice notes of cinnamon and clove. Alluring notes of black pepper, cedar and violet are supported by savory nuances of chaparral brush, showing hints of fresh thyme, lavender and sage. The expansive mouthfeel is rich and generous with chewy, firm tannins that warm and coat the palate leading to an incredibly lengthy finish with ripe, mouthwatering acidity. Enjoyable now and can be cellared for 5-10 years.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Yum. This is a dense, layered red with opulence yet raciness, which give it beautiful, forceful direction. Very polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. A blend of merlot, petite sirah, cabernet sauvignon and malbec. Drink after 2022.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 The Investor is a blend of 37% Merlot, 30% Petite Sirah, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec. It was aged for 20 months with the Petite Sirah in American Oak (25% new) and the Bordeaux varieties in French oak (35% new). Deep garnet-purple in color, notes of blueberry pie, blackcurrant jelly and baked blackberries soar out of the glass followed by subtle scents of cloves, vanilla pod, powdered cinnamon and molten chocolate with a waft of plum sauce. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of spicy black and blue fruits with soft, rounded tannins and just enough freshness to lend a little vigor to the savory finish.
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A fashionable country resort in the mid-twentieth century, popular with Hollywood due to its 1892 stone Manor House and historic gardens, legends of bootleggers and gangsters, ghosts and gypsies, Stags' Leap has been home to three major family groups up through the modern revitalization of the winery that began in the 1970s.
Stags Leap Manor, as it was called in the 1920s, was known as one of the prominent country retreats in the Napa Valley at a time when resort and spa business was big. In addition to lodging and dining, amenities included lawn tennis, swimming, horseback riding, children's activities, golf, music, cards, a library, and Napa Valley wines and liquors (prior to and after Prohibition).
An intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, Stags Leap is a place of natural beauty, storied buildings and gardens, a lively history, and a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.