Stag's Leap Winery The Investor Red Blend (2012 - 2013)

Stag’s Leap Winery’s The Investor Red Blend from 2012 and 2013 comes from Napa Valley, California, and honors the winery’s founder, Horace Chase. You’ll taste a wine built to balance power and elegance. Both vintages benefited from nearly perfect growing conditions, producing wines that are rich, structured, and age-worthy.

The blend features Bordeaux varietals like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, combined with Stag’s Leap’s signature Petite Sirah. In 2012, it’s roughly 40% Merlot, 40% Petite Sirah, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 vintage adds 12% Malbec while slightly adjusting the other grapes. Petite Sirah brings depth and concentration, while the Bordeaux grapes add softness, fresh fruit, and elegance.

Expect concentrated dark fruit flavors—blackberry, black cherry, and plum—alongside hints of chocolate, vanilla, tobacco, cedar, and spice. The wine is full-bodied with velvety tannins and a smooth, balanced finish. Oak aging (American for Petite Sirah, French for the Bordeaux varietals) adds complexity.

Serve slightly below room temperature and pair it with braised short ribs, grilled rib-eye, roasted lamb, or rich pasta dishes. Critics rated both vintages highly, and with proper cellaring, this wine can develop beautifully for over a decade.