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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.4 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 386 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by AllRed on 12/9/2023 & rated 93 points: Annual Caroling & Chili Party (R&D's): Magnum, double decanted off its sediment an hour before the event. Slight bricking. Mature red berry fruit, a touch plummy, with spice, white pepper and boysenberry tones. Picks up a subtle herbal element as it breathes. Balanced, with a nice finish. At peak in this format. (548 views) | | | Tasted by MichielV on 7/5/2023 & rated 90 points: W veggie pasta. Sanne P visiting on 4th of July - fireworks in Pelham. This needs to be drunk. It is good and certainly after 30 mins of air but it is losing power. Fruit is getting to bricky and leaving. Still good length but you should drink up. (669 views) | | | Tasted by hargy on 6/2/2022 & rated 89 points: this has seen better days but still quite comfortable drinking - would drink very soon (1551 views) | | | Tasted by BRR on 5/1/2022: Not decanted. This is on the downhill slide, which surprised me a bit. Slightly prune-like edge to the nose, but it didn't show on the palate. Ripe dark fruits and some cedar. The oak actually still showed quite a bit. On day two, a glass showed some eucalyptus notes. Good, not amazing. Drink now. (1534 views) | | | Tasted by Winiac on 10/6/2021 flawed bottle: Bandaid taste/Brett (2150 views) | | | Tasted by Winiac on 9/16/2021 & rated 91 points: Good wine, but lacks delicious factor. (1935 views) | | | Tasted by MKHarris1 on 4/3/2021 & rated 92 points: Perhaps starting to fade a little. (2271 views) | | | Tasted by ogres3 on 2/28/2021 & rated 92 points: My last '08. Still drinking well. Lots of fruit, may be due to the petite sirah. Opened up over about an hour. (1736 views) | | | Tasted by BHRH on 1/5/2021 & rated 90 points: Nice cork, no decant, but slow ox 30+ minutes in glass. Some plums and brambleberry on the nose - with maybe a dash of dill and anise. Rich palate with ripe plums and cherries and just enough structure to make this food friendly. Seems to be at or beyond peak - recommend drink up in 2021! (1965 views) | | | Tasted by Lord Marc on 1/4/2021 & rated 91 points: This was awesome, I thought it was past its prime. The tannins where mild, and the blend of Zin, Sarah, Carignan was perfect. This is my last one wish I had another dozen to savour. (1487 views) | | | Tasted by missionpk on 1/3/2021 & rated 92 points: Tasting really good. Feels mature. Soft. Smooth. This bottle wasn't stored optimally, especially early, so it could be more advanced than some. (1511 views) | | | Tasted by Philip67 on 12/22/2020 & rated 93 points: 74% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, and 5% Carignan.
Medium bodied, sweet slightly raisoned red fruit. Good acidity providing a pleasant freshness, tannins still there. Herbs of rosemary and Thyme along with spice and pepper after the fruit. Persistent and complex. Drinking perfectly now, will last a few more years but suspect this is the high point. (1186 views) | | | Tasted by Jjarriel on 12/6/2020 & rated 93 points: Unbelievable (and once again - community drinking window insanely conservative - this had more legs). Paired w steak and it was lovely. No decant but used an aerating filter (lotta “stuff” in this bottle) (1045 views) | | | Tasted by bboard on 11/28/2020: 45 mins decant, 2/3 bottle consume on Day 1, 1/3 on Day 2.
First 75 mins, wine was only ok - med body, fruit was hiding, decent complexity. Between 75mins to 120 mins, wine opened up and changed through this time. Finally the yummy dark fruit showed up, great acidity, lots of complexity (herbs, smoke, tar/tobacco). Compared to the 2009 version we had 2 years ago, this one seems to lack a little structure and umph (perhaps a little thinner). Which makes us think perhaps peak was 2 years ago?
Day 2 - Wine was recork and put in fridge from day before. Wine still needed about an hour to wake up. Still lots of complexity. Fruit is now more "prune". Still enjoyable (1020 views) | | | Tasted by AMG4RPM on 11/5/2020 & rated 91 points: Stood up well to Hungarian chicken paprikash. (1004 views) | | | Tasted by jgh123 on 10/3/2020 & rated 91 points: Solid; should drink well for several more years (1012 views) | | | Tasted by Lordswood on 9/11/2020 & rated 92 points: This was a real treat and changed its character throughout the evening.
Initially double decanted about 3 hours before drinking, the first glass had a touch of forest floor and the sweetness that I always associate with Zinfandel. But wait, this is a mere 74% Zin, and a couple of hours after the first glass it is hitting its stride with more tannic background / backbone and wonderful fresh, clean raspberry, sweet cherry and vanilla flavours. Truly memorable. After another hour I felt it became a little more muddled. Moral of the story? Drink now, and drink with a smile on your face. Superb! (1074 views) | | | Tasted by eriemer on 9/7/2020 flawed bottle: Was well past drinking window. (1036 views) | | | Tasted by timewithwine on 7/9/2020: Pulled for another ridge virtual tasting with surprise guest Carole Meredith discussing the history of Zin. Distinct notes of mocha and coffee on the finish. The elegance glides by leaving an alluring hint of dusty rose. Drink now or hold, but it’s a lovely wine. It blows the Pozo away. 74% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah and 5% Carignane. Light coat of sediment coats the entire side of the bottle with some thickening at the shoulder and sediment dripping out in the final pour. 14.4% alc. With leftover London broil (beef). Recommended. (379 views) | | | Tasted by askoje on 7/3/2020 & rated 92 points: Espresso, cocoa powder, blackcurrant and blueberries on the nose. With air some black tea leaves can also be found. Juicy and dry at the same time, this wine changed more than I usually see in a LS from it was opened to 2 hours with air. Tasted side by side with the 08' Geyserville. This is a bit more grippy tannins, also has some oak/bark aroma with lots of bramble fruit on the nose. It has an exceptional long finish and overall balance. (1055 views) | | | Tasted by rjsmall on 6/12/2020: Toast nose. Mid-red colour. Fruit nose with cranberry. Cranberry and dark fruit flavours. Needed an hour or so to open. Less advanced than the Geyersville at this stage. (1021 views) | | | Tasted by Rich S on 6/4/2020 & rated 91 points: Popped and poured. Medium garnet color. Nose of brambly red fruit, dill, baking spices, herbs. Oak definitely comes through loud and clear. Similar flavors on the palate with dried and slightly baked cherry and plum flavors, almost pie filling like but not in a sweet way. More of the American oak on the palate with a sweet and sour finish. Medium acid and tannin. Structure tells me to drink sooner rather than later if holding any. (963 views) | | | Tasted by sortcode on 5/21/2020 & rated 89 points: 21.5.2020:+ Zu Beginn frisch und säurebetont, nach 1h dekant Minze, Kräuter, leicht salzig, getrocknete Tomate, gut und jetzt auch die letzte Flasche
23.4.2020:++ Mittlerweile etwas über den Peak, jetzt leer trinken, sehr schöner ZIN, nicht groß aber sehr lecker
10.5.2019:++ Lorbeere, Piment, Süßholz, zarte Vanille nach 1h voll da, tolles Sauerkirsche, Minze, unheimlich lecker, jetzt und evtl bis zu zwei Jahren
6.6.2017:+ noch volles Rot mit leicht bräunlichen Rändern, erste Nase: volle Brombeere, Marmelade, leicht alk., würzig, leichte Tanne, Leder, Sauerkirsche, Nelke, etwas Muskat, nach 1h reduzierte Komplexität, kräftiger Wein zum Fleisch, Trinken! Jetzt!
RP: The 2008 Lytton Springs Proprietary Red, a blend of 74% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, and 5% Carignan, possesses a deep ruby/purple color and good acidity, and a more closed style than the Geyserville, with a firmer, more restrained overall personality. It should drink well for 7-8 years Zinnfandel, Petit Syrah, Carignan (1008 views) | | | Tasted by drmarclevine on 5/16/2020 & rated 92 points: Cranberry jam, red cherries, and tobacco on the nose. Solid core of red fruit and some cough drop in the mouth. Fresh and lively with a long earthy finish. What a great effort from Ridge! At peak now but will hold another 2-3 years at least. (917 views) | | | Tasted by rjsmall on 4/3/2020: Deep, dark red colour with slight brown edges. Dense, tight nose. Hints of black cherry and forest floor. Cranberry, black cherry, spice and licorice on palette. Good acid bite. Medium to long finish. Beautiful - probably at the top of the drinking window. (960 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Brilliance in the Santa Cruz Mountains (Jul 2016) (7/1/2016)
(Ridge Lytton Springs Sonoma) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, December 2011, Issue #34
(Ridge California Lytton Spring Zinfandel) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Australia and the Pacific Northwest, Issue #8 (6/25/2011)
(Ridge Lytton Springs) Login and sign up and see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (5/25/2011)
(Ridge Lytton Springs, Dry Creek Valley red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (5/18/2011)
(Ridge Lytton Springs, Dry Creek Valley red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, May/Jun 2011, Issue #33, Recently Tasted California Wines The Search for Traditionalists Turns Up A Crowd
(Zinfandel “Lytton Springs”- Ridge Vineyards) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, May/June 2011, IWC Issue #156
(Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/3/2010)
(Ridge, Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and The World of Fine Wine and JebDunnuck.com and WineAlign and View From the Cellar and JancisRobinson.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.2008 Ridge Lytton Springs74% Zinfandel, 21% Petit Syrah, 5% Carignane
WINE CLUB NOTES: Ripe nose of raspberry, plum, pepper and chapparel. Blackberry, mineral and vanilla notes dominate the palate. Well integrated tannins typical of this classic vineyard add to its long finish.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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