Ridge Vineyards
Lytton Estate Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel Blend – 2023
Lytton Springs Vineyard – Dry Creek Valley – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A famously complex field blend from one of Ridge’s crown-jewel vineyards. The 2023 Lytton Springs delivers intensity from start to finish, layered, structured, and deeply expressive. While Ridge’s single-vineyard Zinfandels showcase purity, Lytton Springs shows architecture: Zin 76% as the backbone, 14% Petite Sirah for muscle, 7% Carignane for lift, 2% Alicante Bouschet for color, and 1% Mataro for savory depth.
Aromas & Flavors
Black raspberry, boysenberry, and dark cherry with violet, cracked pepper, cedar, licorice, and warm baking spice. Subtle graphite and dried herbs emerge with air, adding another dimension.
Mouthfeel
Dense and full-bodied with concentrated fruit, firm tannins, and vibrant acidity. The Petite Sirah brings grip and power, while Carignane adds freshness. The finish is long, structured, and beautifully persistent.
Food Pairings
Smoked brisket, rosemary lamb chops, charcoal-grilled steak, hearty chili, or aged Manchego.
Verdict
A multi-layered, intensely focused Zinfandel blend that represents Ridge at its most complete and architectural. A wine that rewards slow sipping, and even more, side-by-side comparison.
Did You Know?
Lytton Springs is one of the few historic vineyards in California where the field-blend tradition is still honored. Many vines are 100+ years old, interplanted in the classic old-vine recipe: Zinfandel with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet, and Mataro. Ridge preserves this original vineyard voice in every vintage.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Taste Ridge’s 100% Zinfandel “Benito Dusi” bottling before opening Lytton Springs, and you’ll appreciate how expressive both styles are, then taste them simultaneously for an elevated, eye-opening experience of structure versus purity.
Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel Blend – 2023
Lytton Springs Vineyard – Dry Creek Valley – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A famously complex field blend from one of Ridge’s crown-jewel vineyards. The 2023 Lytton Springs delivers intensity from start to finish, layered, structured, and deeply expressive. While Ridge’s single-vineyard Zinfandels showcase purity, Lytton Springs shows architecture: Zin 76% as the backbone, 14% Petite Sirah for muscle, 7% Carignane for lift, 2% Alicante Bouschet for color, and 1% Mataro for savory depth.
Aromas & Flavors
Black raspberry, boysenberry, and dark cherry with violet, cracked pepper, cedar, licorice, and warm baking spice. Subtle graphite and dried herbs emerge with air, adding another dimension.
Mouthfeel
Dense and full-bodied with concentrated fruit, firm tannins, and vibrant acidity. The Petite Sirah brings grip and power, while Carignane adds freshness. The finish is long, structured, and beautifully persistent.
Food Pairings
Smoked brisket, rosemary lamb chops, charcoal-grilled steak, hearty chili, or aged Manchego.
Verdict
A multi-layered, intensely focused Zinfandel blend that represents Ridge at its most complete and architectural. A wine that rewards slow sipping, and even more, side-by-side comparison.
Did You Know?
Lytton Springs is one of the few historic vineyards in California where the field-blend tradition is still honored. Many vines are 100+ years old, interplanted in the classic old-vine recipe: Zinfandel with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet, and Mataro. Ridge preserves this original vineyard voice in every vintage.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Taste Ridge’s 100% Zinfandel “Benito Dusi” bottling before opening Lytton Springs, and you’ll appreciate how expressive both styles are, then taste them simultaneously for an elevated, eye-opening experience of structure versus purity.