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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.6 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 117 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by jgh123 on 3/1/2024 & rated 93 points: I bought a case of this in 2001 and this was my last bottle. Once again, I'm amazed by it's quality and longevity. Rich, opulent and lingering with black fruit and perfect balance. Sorry I didn't buy 2 cases... (181 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 7/1/2023: A Ridge Tahoe Weekend; 6/29/2023-7/2/2023 (Edgewood Resort): The surprise of the dinner for me - this was just lovely. It is actually still on the young side (poured out of magnum) with a long life ahead but wow was this quite tasty. Great black fruits and spice and while they tried to say it was getting its Bordeaux notes I hadn’t quite gotten there yet. It’s as though heading in a very nice direction with more time to go. Very good wine. (924 views) | | | Tasted by Rhwinetracker on 5/7/2022: The oldest Zinfandel I have ever had and quite impressive. I too had difficulty with the cork (which was slightly raised, but once finally removed the wine was fine). The high acidity reminds me of a Chianti Classico, but more ripe, less tannic, and with a blueberry note. Went great with pizza, but a little too sweet for hard cheese course at end of meal. (1220 views) | | | Tasted by Easter Everywhere on 5/7/2021: Very good now (1867 views) | | | Tasted by jlgnml on 4/16/2021 & rated 93 points: Stunning. With pizza, what a drink. Fully integrated. Drink (1880 views) | | | Tasted by pigdaddy on 4/7/2021 & rated 92 points: a troublesome cork, yet decanted successfully, 30 min of air, relished for 1.5 more. deep red/black; nose retains evidence of its youthful fruit, now more demure, sweet & spicy, hint of mint, sharpened pencil; plush cashmere sweater on the palate; absolutely delightful & completely mature, precise & pure.
may persevere, but so rewarding now. this has been a pleasure throughout its lifetime, last one.
pork neck 'chili' w/ayocote amarillo beans, avocado, pickled fresno chilies, cotija, crema (1893 views) | | | Tasted by SAND on 6/30/2020 & rated 90 points: (Old vine Zinfandel with minor amounts of Petite Sirah and Carignane. Aged in new and one year old American oak. 14.5% vol. The cork was intact with only a minor portion soaked with wine but broke as it came out).
APPEARANCE: Medium deep black-reddish colour with a wide, lighter rim with a reddish brown tint.
NOSE: Mature and jammy fruit with dark plums, strawberry marmalade; moderate oaky notes with hints of charring, tar, wood smoke, milk chocolate and leather. Some earthy and dusty notes as well. With more air come red gooseberries, liquorice and hints of mint.(91p)
TASTE: The arrival is sweet with ripe, plum fruit and blackberries. On the mid palate it has an almost oily texture, with some milk chocolate and hints of mint, while the fruit is more sweet & sour (albeit less sour than sweet). The fruit carries on into the finish where it mixes with rather soft, rounded tannins, culminating in a lingering finish. (90-91p)
OVERALL: Obviously a very mature Zinfandel, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this really appeals to me. This typically ages better than most Zins. It may now be more for drinking than keeping although I think it will survive another few years of cellaring, possibly longer. TOTAL SCORE 90 (91) points. (2033 views) | | | Tasted by Vandiner on 6/20/2020 & rated 92 points: A mature Zin at the end of its plateau. No rush, it has the stuff to stay where it is for a couple of years but will not improve. Even so, this still needs some air to open up. Decant gently and enjoy. Yumm. (1524 views) | | | Tasted by gharter on 10/3/2019 & rated 90 points: Last bottle. The cork had not leaked at all, but broke as it came out. Still a beautiful wine. Loaded with fruit, blackberry, black pepper, spice, cedar and mint. Great balance with a long finish. Lots of depth.
Comes across more as an aged claret than a zinfandel. (1504 views) | | | Tasted by SMHalps on 6/16/2019 & rated 92 points: This was a surprise. A bottle lost in my cellar, not even on my inventory! WA has 2 reviews for this, one from 2000, 90 points, with a drinking window that ends in 2009, and one from 2015, for 92 points with a drinking window that ends in 2024. 70% Zin, and a completely different wine than it was in its youth. But still very enjoyable. How much you like this, would depend on how you feel about Zins that have lost much of their fruit. (1655 views) | | | Tasted by Rieslingfan on 6/16/2019: From the day it was released, this has been an outstanding rendition of Lytton Springs. From the first sip, to now, two hours after opening, it’s still outstanding. It still has plenty of fruit, and a mature complex backdrop of spice, cedar and mint. It’s perfectly balanced, and very long. Lots of depth, so it may even have upside, though I cannot imagine it being better than it is now. No rush though. There’s plenty of runway for this version of Lytton Springs. (1876 views) | | | Tasted by vinolovers on 9/2/2018 & rated 94 points: The color was dark upon opening and pouring. An impressive, expansive nose with dark fruits and spice with some leather and chocolate coming thru later. Lots of blackberry, pepper, a touch of licorice, some smokiness that paired wonderfully with the ribs off the grill. Unlikely to improve with more age, but a terrific mature zin. (1780 views) | | | Tasted by ESTEELE90 on 7/26/2018: At the Hollywood Bowl. Double decanted off the sediment. Very new world but very well made and balanced. Nose and palate show plenty of red berries, baking spice, blackberry fruit roll up, milk chocolate and warm tilled soil. Very creamy textured midpalate with good acidity and integrated tannins keeps this structured and balanced. Hard not to enjoy. (2232 views) | | | Tasted by fred o. on 7/26/2018: per report, brief decant for sediment. inky violet with legs.
Explosive dark fruits on the nose, hint of cedar/leather.
Velvety dark fruits, hint of honey and caramel, some cinnamon/baking spice.
Very deep, great balance. No stewed fruits for this bottle (purchased recently on secondary market). A highlight, still drinking really well, at peak to my taste. 94 pts (2088 views) | | | Tasted by Jaber on 1/29/2018 & rated 91 points: Fruit explosion on the nose, leather, moss and licorice in the mouth. Medium length finish, so smooth and silky. Superb (last) bottle. (2390 views) | | | Tasted by Rieslingfan on 5/21/2017: Holy cow is this good! Still showing plenty of fruit, but also lots of earthy spice, it's as good (or better) Lytton as I have ever had. Rich yet balanced, it sustains a depth from first sip to last swallow that no other edition of this wine has matched in my experience. Compelling wine that goes beyond what 99.999% of zinfandels shoot for and what 99.999999% achieve. (3818 views) | | | Tasted by AudunG on 9/17/2016 & rated 90 points: Burgundy like aromas, but richer and a lot more spicy in the mouth. Tasty and lovely zin (mostly). Has aged well. (4035 views) | | | Tasted by jgh123 on 7/2/2016 & rated 94 points: As others have pointed out, this wine is simply wonderful. In my opinion, despite the hype about certain other California wine celebrities, Paul Draper is a genius!!! (3897 views) | | | Tasted by cos65 on 2/24/2016: Crystalline garnet colored. The most vibrant example to show that some Zinfandels actually can age. This is lovely with rich cherry, porty, advanced flavors. Still with a hint of tannins. I get the sense this could hold at this stage for years. IMHO, a true American grand cru, as silly as that may be to say.
If you're a fan of Lytton springs, absolutely recommend keeping a few aside for long aging. (4464 views) | | | Tasted by Fausto_Coppi on 6/13/2015 & rated 94 points: Great wine with excellent balance. Predominantly black fruit on nose and palate with cinnamon and liquorice flavours adding to the complexity. Drank with Chinese food with John and Judy - great combination. (4842 views) | | | Tasted by Rieslingfan on 12/14/2014: Rich, velvety and perfectly balanced, this is an outstanding Lytton Springs. Ripe black berries, a hint of spice and some leathery/earthy elements make for a complete aromatic and flavor experience. Truly a delicious wine. (4954 views) | | | Tasted by Tubulus on 6/12/2014 & rated 93 points: Find me a better wine to drink with steak, I dare you. (4827 views) | | | Tasted by robmatic on 5/18/2014 & rated 94 points: In some ways, Ridge Lytton Springs is the best wine in the world. It is just staggering how much pleasure that this wine has delivered over the years, through many vintages. Experience has shown Lytton Springs reaches its apogee 12-15 years after the vintage, and the 1999 is right on schedule. It is simply gorgeous right now, brimming with depth, but it also has a sense of humor. It's serious in all the right places, but is so very approachable and open. Drink now and buy more while it's still one of the greatest wine bargains in the world. (4795 views) | | | Tasted by Whidah on 3/11/2014 & rated 92 points: This was a gift so now I have no more. I don't generally enjoy zins but this just blew me away. Beautifully knit with intense berry fragrances perfectly balanced against acid and soft tannins. Paired with seared Alakan salmon and risotto. Odd perhaps but it worked perfectly. (4425 views) | | | Tasted by Saint-Exupéry on 3/11/2014 & rated 94 points: Deep ruby-red. Gorgeous red berry nose with earthy undertones. On the palate plush, candied red fruits coupled with layered notes of pepper, sweet spices and soy. Rich and opulent, yet very balanced. Retains an elegance that very few Zins achieve. This will keep well for another decade. Absolutely fabulous, together with 2005 my favourite vintage for Lytton Springs. (3629 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Elaine Chukan Brown
JancisRobinson.com (3/1/2019)
(Ridge, Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Lucia Highlands (2/14/2019)
(Ridge Lytton Springs Red) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Double Vertical of Ridge's Geyserville and Lytton Springs (Aug 2018) (8/1/2018)
(Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Sonoma County Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2001, IWC Issue #96
(Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (9/26/2010)
(Ridge Lytton Springs) Slightly bricking medium dark red violet color; appealing, ripe raspberry, baked raspberry, dried red berry nose with a background of satsuma plum; very tasty, rich but poised, tart red berry, tart raspberry, satsuma plum palate with depth; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. (70% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, 3% Mataro) 92 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and JebDunnuck.com and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Ridge Producer website | Wikipedia
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California. The original winery facilities are located at an elevation of 2,300 feet (700 m) on Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA near Cupertino, California. The other Ridge winery facilities are at Lytton Springs in the Dry Creek Valley AVA of Sonoma County.Ridge Lytton SpringsHistory
In 1972, Ridge made its first Lytton Springs from vines planted on the eastern half of the vineyard at the turn of the century, and purchased both the eastern and western portions of the vineyard in the early 1990s, (In the 1870s, under "Captain" William Litton's ownership, the two were part of one property; spelling evolved into "Lytton" by 1903.) The vineyard is planted to zinfandel and its principal complementary varietals.
Vineyard
First Ridge Lytton Springs®: 1972
Location: The bench and hills separating Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys, just north of Healdsburg, Sonoma County.
Elevation: 80' - 160'
Soils: Varied, with a predominance of gravelly clay; gravelly clay loam on hillsides.
Age of Vines: Lytton East: zinfandel, petite sirah, grenache and carignane planted 1901 (32 acres) and 1910 (11 acres); zinfandel and petite sirah, planted 1997-1998 (5 acres), Lytton West: zinfandel, petite sirah, carignane, grenache re-planted 1953-1968 (26 acres); zinfandel and petite sirah, planted 1980's (2.5 acres); zinfandel and petite sirah planted in 1990's (42.8 acres); zinfandel, limited petite sirah, limited carignane, in 2000's (60 acres).
Training: Head trained (no trellis), spur pruned.
Climate: Fog in a.m., warm sunny afternoons, breezes in late p.m.
Exposure: Southeasterly
Yields: 1.5 to 3.0 tons per acre
©Ridge Vineyards
In the heart of Dry Creek Valley, home to 100 year old Zinfandel vines, co-planted (as was the norm) with small amounts of Petite Sirah, Carignane, Grenache and Mourvedre, Lytton Springs is Ridge’s Sonoma HQ. This is ideal Zinfandel country and produces wines that are spectacular both young and with age.Lytton SpringsThe bench and hills separating Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys, just north of Healdsburg, Sonoma County.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountyDry Creek Valley Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley | Dry Creek Valley Association | Appellation America | San Francisco Chronicle Article |
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