Holy moly the pedigree and source of this bottle of wine is fantastic. 50% Cabernet from Moulds vineyard. Almost 40% Lagrein from Calistoga (no, NOT from Kenedixk Ranch...but the 34% Lagrein is from the Blossom Creek Vineyard in Calistoga. Bringing up the rear is 16% Petit Verdot from the Kidd Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. The nose on this one is awesomely bipolar. On the one hand, let's just purple and black fruit, youthful and dense. On the other hand, cedar mulch with a healthy dose of nitrogen. The palate is all black and purple fruit. As Shay mentioned, this wine seemed to have a very healthy dose of Malbec in it, however when it took a nosedive to the darker side of things I started to question it! Black and purple candy fruit crush on the front, forest floor middle with herbs and dark chocolate to the middle. Finished with a rounded but still ever so youthful character about it but really went to a darker side, displaying some tobacco, boysenberry, and sauteed mushroom character. First, never would have guessed this one was in its 10th year. Second, never would have initially guessed that this was almost 20% PV but given the darker, foresty and boysenberry type notes on the finish, it definitely makes sense. Parker says this one should have been on its way down two years ago. Although a lot of his review appears to be spot on, the drinking window is definitely not. I really don't feel this wine will improve anymore with additional aging, but it certainly isn't headed down tertiary-landia anytime soon. I see this one developing, I'll be at more on the darker side of things, over the next 3 to 5 years. I would not wait much past 2030 though, as I do feel this wine will be developing tertiary notes absolutely by that time. What a gift to have this one opened for me to enjoy tonight! Thank you Shay!
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The Visitor is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Moulds Family Vineyard in Oak Knoll; 34% Lagrein from the Blossom Creek Vineyard in Calistoga and 16% Petit Verdot from the Kidd Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. Made only one time (2013).
I didn’t even know Lagrein existed in Napa. Last I had that varietal, it was from Alto Adige. Deep purple in the glass (thanks petit Verdot). Blackberries, boysenberry, mocha, dark cocoa aromatics with dark floral/potpourri too. Blind, I would have guessed this had a good bit of Malbec…so much juicy/fresh squeezed and slightly tart black/red berry fruit, almost jam/compote like, alongside forest floor, and high percentage dark chocolate. Shocking amount of tannin, even after being open for almost 5hrs. Best at cellar temp. I’d say open now to enjoy as I’m not sure it gets better in regards to fruit presence.
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1/25/2023 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
Holy moly the pedigree and source of this bottle of wine is fantastic. 50% Cabernet from Moulds vineyard. Almost 40% Lagrein from Calistoga (no, NOT from Kenedixk Ranch...but the 34% Lagrein is from the Blossom Creek Vineyard in Calistoga. Bringing up the rear is 16% Petit Verdot from the Kidd Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. The nose on this one is awesomely bipolar. On the one hand, let's just purple and black fruit, youthful and dense. On the other hand, cedar mulch with a healthy dose of nitrogen. The palate is all black and purple fruit. As Shay mentioned, this wine seemed to have a very healthy dose of Malbec in it, however when it took a nosedive to the darker side of things I started to question it! Black and purple candy fruit crush on the front, forest floor middle with herbs and dark chocolate to the middle. Finished with a rounded but still ever so youthful character about it but really went to a darker side, displaying some tobacco, boysenberry, and sauteed mushroom character. First, never would have guessed this one was in its 10th year. Second, never would have initially guessed that this was almost 20% PV but given the darker, foresty and boysenberry type notes on the finish, it definitely makes sense. Parker says this one should have been on its way down two years ago. Although a lot of his review appears to be spot on, the drinking window is definitely not. I really don't feel this wine will improve anymore with additional aging, but it certainly isn't headed down tertiary-landia anytime soon. I see this one developing, I'll be at more on the darker side of things, over the next 3 to 5 years. I would not wait much past 2030 though, as I do feel this wine will be developing tertiary notes absolutely by that time. What a gift to have this one opened for me to enjoy tonight! Thank you Shay!
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1/25/2023 - Shay.Aldriedge Likes this wine: 92 Points
The Visitor is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Moulds Family Vineyard in Oak Knoll; 34% Lagrein from the Blossom Creek Vineyard in Calistoga and 16% Petit Verdot from the Kidd Ranch Vineyard in St. Helena. Made only one time (2013).
I didn’t even know Lagrein existed in Napa. Last I had that varietal, it was from Alto Adige. Deep purple in the glass (thanks petit Verdot). Blackberries, boysenberry, mocha, dark cocoa aromatics with dark floral/potpourri too. Blind, I would have guessed this had a good bit of Malbec…so much juicy/fresh squeezed and slightly tart black/red berry fruit, almost jam/compote like, alongside forest floor, and high percentage dark chocolate. Shocking amount of tannin, even after being open for almost 5hrs. Best at cellar temp. I’d say open now to enjoy as I’m not sure it gets better in regards to fruit presence.
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4/19/2019 - chuckos77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smooth, balanced, reminiscent of green apple, fantastic wine that still has plenty for f time to age.
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