Ridge Vineyards
Lytton Estate Dry Creek Valley Syrah Viognier
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Killer as always!
Killer as always!
Oct 18th, 2024
Savory, earthy. By the second night it really opened up with an expansive finish. Good now but I'd like to taste what happens in 5 to 10 years.
Savory, earthy. By the second night it really opened up with an expansive finish. Good now but I'd like to taste what happens in 5 to 10 years.
Jun 21st, 2018
Awesome co-fermented Syrah with Viognier. This wine is rockin’! Black, blue and red fruits earthy leather and spice notes. 2016 vintage is worth every penny. It’s only going to get better with more bottle age.
Awesome co-fermented Syrah with Viognier. This wine is rockin’! Black, blue and red fruits earthy leather and spice notes. 2016 vintage is worth every penny. It’s only going to get better with more bottle age.
1 person found it helpfulDec 10th, 2021
Haven’t opened a lot of Ridge lately but, have over my life. Still have not opened a bad bottle of Ridge. Not even one corked.
I also learned a long time ago, never open Ridge reds young.
The nose reveals, ruby, candied, spice driven, floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & creamy raspberries. White pepper, dark, medium spice, anise to black licorice, vanilla, clove, touch of nutmeg, alcohol vapors, mixed berry cola, dark, rich, turned earth, grey volcanics, limestone, dry, crushed rocks with bright, candied; dark, red, purple & blue florals framed with in soft field of violets & lavender.
The palate is rounding up to its peak but, it is still ascending. The tension, structure, length & balance have started their prime integration. The tannins have round, tarry, meaty baby teeth. Ruby, candied, spice driven, floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & creamy raspberries. White pepper, dark, medium spice, anise to black licorice, vanilla, clove, touch of nutmeg, alcohol vapors, mixed berry cola, sweet tarriness, used, French expresso grounds, moist clay, warm, well done toast, touch herbaceous tree sap with bark, eucalyptus, some mint, dark, rich, turned earth, grey volcanics, limestone, dry, crushed rocks & top soil, oak barrel shavings with bright, candied; dark, red, purple & blue florals framed with in soft field of violets & lavender. The acidity is round & refreshing. The long, well balanced, ruby, lush, elegant finish loads as juicy fruits rounding into a great combination of earth & spice persisting for days.
Not quite the perfect pizza pairing but, the evening was put together last minute & I wanted to open the 97 Phelps Syrah. This was my back up bottle in case the 97 hadn’t held up. Somehow, the Ridge got opened as well. I hate it when that happens.
Haven’t opened a lot of Ridge lately but, have over my life. Still have not opened a bad bottle of Ridge. Not even one corked.
I also learned a long time ago, never open Ridge reds young.
The nose reveals, ruby, candied, spice driven, floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & creamy raspberries. White pepper, dark, medium spice, anise to black licorice, vanilla, clove, touch of nutmeg, alcohol vapors, mixed berry cola, dark, rich, turned earth, grey volcanics, limestone, dry, crushed rocks with bright, candied; dark, red, purple & blue florals framed with in soft field of violets & lavender.
The palate is rounding up to its peak but, it is still ascending. The tension, structure, length & balance have started their prime integration. The tannins have round, tarry, meaty baby teeth. Ruby, candied, spice driven, floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & creamy raspberries. White pepper, dark, medium spice, anise to black licorice, vanilla, clove, touch of nutmeg, alcohol vapors, mixed berry cola, sweet tarriness, used, French expresso grounds, moist clay, warm, well done toast, touch herbaceous tree sap with bark, eucalyptus, some mint, dark, rich, turned earth, grey volcanics, limestone, dry, crushed rocks & top soil, oak barrel shavings with bright, candied; dark, red, purple & blue florals framed with in soft field of violets & lavender. The acidity is round & refreshing. The long, well balanced, ruby, lush, elegant finish loads as juicy fruits rounding into a great combination of earth & spice persisting for days.
Not quite the perfect pizza pairing but, the evening was put together last minute & I wanted to open the 97 Phelps Syrah. This was my back up bottle in case the 97 hadn’t held up. Somehow, the Ridge got opened as well. I hate it when that happens.
This is fucking right now. Gorgeous, enough hedonistic quality but retains balance and complexity. Smoked BBQ ribs, roasted coffee, mesquite charcoal, bacon fat, talcum, leather, vanilla, mulberry compote with a hint of overripe blue fruit. It has sinew and grit, but there’s appropriate richness on the palate to balance its structure. Tannins are a touch drying, but I love the character that brings to it. Young but to good now, properly stored I could see this hitting 20 years no problem. Perfect with a bacon cheeseburger w/ grilled onion. Curious how ‘15 and ‘16 vintages will stack up.
This is fucking right now. Gorgeous, enough hedonistic quality but retains balance and complexity. Smoked BBQ ribs, roasted coffee, mesquite charcoal, bacon fat, talcum, leather, vanilla, mulberry compote with a hint of overripe blue fruit. It has sinew and grit, but there’s appropriate richness on the palate to balance its structure. Tannins are a touch drying, but I love the character that brings to it. Young but to good now, properly stored I could see this hitting 20 years no problem. Perfect with a bacon cheeseburger w/ grilled onion. Curious how ‘15 and ‘16 vintages will stack up.
1 person found it helpfulNov 13th, 2019Very nice. But tight. I liked the 2013 over this 2012. The 12 was similar but not as exuberant and open. needs more time... probably 5 more years.
Very nice. But tight. I liked the 2013 over this 2012. The 12 was similar but not as exuberant and open. needs more time... probably 5 more years.
1 person found it helpfulSep 30th, 2019I’m upping my rating over last year’s bottle... Amazing nose! Popcorn, dark chocolate, dark berry tapenade, savory earth... long finish. Can’t wait for next year and the next bottle.
I’m upping my rating over last year’s bottle... Amazing nose! Popcorn, dark chocolate, dark berry tapenade, savory earth... long finish. Can’t wait for next year and the next bottle.
1 person found it helpfulSep 3rd, 2019This was a very good Syrah! I opened it a little prematurely I believe. Would have been better in about 5 years. If you purchase this wine, or have it in your cellar, don’t open it yet!
This was a very good Syrah! I opened it a little prematurely I believe. Would have been better in about 5 years. If you purchase this wine, or have it in your cellar, don’t open it yet!
1 person found it helpfulApr 23rd, 2019