Ridge Vineyards
Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Great as always. Better after lots of air.
Great as always. Better after lots of air.
Jan 18th, 2024
For a Ridge Zin, this strikes me as a big boy. Rich nose has intense, rich, spicy blackberry fruit, accented with a little pungent American oak, and a nice dry gravel note underneath. Expansive in the mouth, the fruit is rich and concentrated, but avoids jamminess, and the palate also features a characteristic brambly component. Finishes dry and clingy, with tactile tannins (soft) coating the mouth. I’m having it with pasta, but this wine is built for a grilled porterhouse.
For a Ridge Zin, this strikes me as a big boy. Rich nose has intense, rich, spicy blackberry fruit, accented with a little pungent American oak, and a nice dry gravel note underneath. Expansive in the mouth, the fruit is rich and concentrated, but avoids jamminess, and the palate also features a characteristic brambly component. Finishes dry and clingy, with tactile tannins (soft) coating the mouth. I’m having it with pasta, but this wine is built for a grilled porterhouse.
Sep 29th, 2022A beautiful wine well past the two decade mark. 80/20 blend of zin and petite Syrah. Nose has raspberry, vanilla, cedar, dried leaves and a touch of heat. Texture is silky on the attack, with glycerol and still a bit of grip on the back end. Richness abounds, with ripe syrupy cherries and raspberry and chocolate, with subtle American oak, and the whole package somehow glides rather than trudges. Wears its ~15% alcohol well.
A beautiful wine well past the two decade mark. 80/20 blend of zin and petite Syrah. Nose has raspberry, vanilla, cedar, dried leaves and a touch of heat. Texture is silky on the attack, with glycerol and still a bit of grip on the back end. Richness abounds, with ripe syrupy cherries and raspberry and chocolate, with subtle American oak, and the whole package somehow glides rather than trudges. Wears its ~15% alcohol well.
Sep 9th, 2022
Blend of 74% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignane & 2% Mataro, aged in 100% air-dried American oak (10% new). Deep Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits, tobacco and earthy spices. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with black pepper, tobacco, citrus spice and a touch of earthy herbs. Fine grainy tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and some cedar. Nice!
Blend of 74% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignane & 2% Mataro, aged in 100% air-dried American oak (10% new). Deep Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits, tobacco and earthy spices. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with black pepper, tobacco, citrus spice and a touch of earthy herbs. Fine grainy tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and some cedar. Nice!
Sep 3rd, 2022Blend of 72% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane & 2% Mataro. Deep Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits, tobacco and earthy spices. On the palate flavors of blackberry and raspberry with black pepper, tobacco, citrus spice and a touch of earthy herbs. Fine firm tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and some cedar. Nice!
Blend of 72% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane & 2% Mataro. Deep Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits, tobacco and earthy spices. On the palate flavors of blackberry and raspberry with black pepper, tobacco, citrus spice and a touch of earthy herbs. Fine firm tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and some cedar. Nice!
Aug 31st, 2022
The 2019 Lytton Springs is another embryonic wine in this range. Readers will have to be patient. Time in the glass brings out an exotic mélange of rose petal, blood orange, pomegranate and star anise, all wrapped together by plush, silky tannins. There is a lot of wine here. Healthy dollops of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro round out the blend, but the Zinfandel is pretty expressive in the leading role. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022)
The 2019 Lytton Springs is another embryonic wine in this range. Readers will have to be patient. Time in the glass brings out an exotic mélange of rose petal, blood orange, pomegranate and star anise, all wrapped together by plush, silky tannins. There is a lot of wine here. Healthy dollops of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro round out the blend, but the Zinfandel is pretty expressive in the leading role. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022)
I decanted knowing this was way too young. But found it balanced and drinking well. As usual, I suspect depth and character will develop with patience. 375ml.
I decanted knowing this was way too young. But found it balanced and drinking well. As usual, I suspect depth and character will develop with patience. 375ml.
May 12th, 2022
Killer vintage of this.
Killer vintage of this.
Aug 4th, 2021