Coravin. Very good. Blind I would have guessed CdP/southern Rhone. Sweet dark red fruits with some oak. Pronounced acidity and tannins but very balanced. 91 p.
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2023 Ridge Montebello harvest dinner. Tastings were focused on cool-year wines, and 2010 was one of those late harvest years. Simply a magical window for this wine right now. Still a mostly ruby color. Incredibly bright nose with a beautiful ripe finish and nice acid. Surprisingly fruit forward for a cool year wine, and a very refined finish. Paired with a garlic and thyme mushroom galette with fontina cheese.
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A blend of 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, and 3% Mourvedre. A beautiful bouquet fills the nose with plum, Zin funk, molasses, a bit of rhubarb, some coffee and mocha mixed in as well. Much the same on the palate with coffee, mocha, and vanilla on the finish. The resolved, round tannins are well integrated, while the fruit remains fresh and lively. Crisp acidity results in a well-balanced wine that delivers much pleasure. Some serious sediment. 14.4% alc. With pepperoni pizza. 08.05.23. Recommended.
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Just a wonderful bottle of Ridge Zin. Deep black cherry, damp wood chips, and a big hit of bay leaf on the nose. Dark raspberry and creamy cola balanced by strong acidity and a mouth-cleansing, fresh finish. Beautifully harmonious package and an insane QPR. Best Ridge I've had in a while. Will hold but can't imagine a better showing. Bravo!
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Forgot to take notes, but this bottle drank really nicely. It is now pretty mature and in nice balance, but I also think it will last a few more years.
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The preceding three notes beautifully describe this wine. I’m just here to supply my score and note that this is a voluptuous Lytton Springs likely at peak now, though based on experience with Ridge Zins like this one, it will remain in its prime drinking window through at least 2025. Galloni scored it 93+ with a drinking window to 2030.
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The nose is a delight: full of extremely vibrant, ripe dark fruits along with smoked meat, dry wood and a leafy note. There’s blackcurrant, blackberry and some dark cherry in this most wonderful dark fruit salad of a nose that is borderline haunting. The palate is larger and riper than what I tend to enjoy normally but all the pieces fit well and exist in harmony. There is plenty of structure here in the way of sticky tannins and juicy acidity and as such the wine comes off as lively and chewy and overall I find the palate youthful with a very fruit-forward character. For my palate this probably has another 5-10 years to go before achieving maturity but there is need to cry myself to sleep tonight for opening it too early. I don’t know if I’ll ever return to buying these wines again because the Euro availability is what it is and France and Italy serve my needs so well but I’m certainly happy I had bought this bottle way back when.
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This wine has been properly cellared. I took it out of the cellar two days before opening it. Dark purple in the glass without signs of bricking. A fruit, spice, and flower combination on the nose with, dark berry, strawberry, baking spices and dark rose. Moderate dryness, with fine, integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Complex palate of blackberry and savory spices, lingers for a long finish. Surprisingly, I believe this 2010 Zin-based blend still has upside development potential. Kudos to the winemaker.
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Not decanted, served in GlassVin Universal stems. Purchased winery-direct. This was really good and showing its peak drinking window. That said, I've heard that Lytton Springs can age well, but I think this is fantastic right now. Still lots of fruit (loganberry, raspberry) with a really unique green tobacco / green peppercorn note running through. Round and polished, with a long finish. Not really much tannic presence anymore, but definitely not showing its age either. Really great with a Flanner NY strip.
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An excellent bottle of Ridge Zin. Needed about 30 minutes of air to get started. Zin berries, flat Dr. Pepper, and cloves mingling beautifully in the glass. Dark raspberries, cola, and something approaching dark chocolate on the palate. Cigar ash began to emerge in the second hour. Round and fruity but balanced by plenty of spice and bright acidity. Right in the sweet spot. At or approaching peak. May gain a bit more complexity but absolutely no reason to wait. Great effort and an incredible value. Punches way above its weight.
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decanted for notable sediment; deeply-colored center to amethyst at the edges; early on, a bit roasted on the nose, but after an hour+, mulled brambleberries, incense & baking spice; full-bodied; ripe, w/slight burnt caramel note, mulberry jam, black peppered-finish.
choose assertive food with this for the next several years, still on the bigger-framed side.
pizza with 'nduja & smoked ricotta
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I tip my hat to Ridge for their consistent commitment to quality & years of education about Zin terroir/single vineyards. The art of Zin blending ... Lytton Springs - primary Petite Sirah, vs Geyserville - primary Carignane. This 2010 Lytton is very satisfying. Vibrant dark berry fruit perfume on the nose. Mature dark berry on the palette, completely integrated tannins, lingering acidity still remaining, it tastes like the best Zin fruit leather. My last of 4, what a great journey through a wine’s life.
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Robust ripe Zin fruits still. Substantial yet a bit linear. The build is really nice and this has come to a good place for it. It's a pretty, classic Zin build expressing nicely now. Maybe a touch riper than I would prefer but the classic lines and build make that welcome to the party. Lots of fruit here still. This is in a nice spot. Those liking a mature expression should still hold.
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I realize I give this a higher score than other tasters. To me, this was close to the perfect zinfandel. Very complex on nose and palate. This could easily be a high end chateaneuf du pape. Smooth, sweet fruit on entry, long finish, spicy, a really great wine. It is in a perfect driniking window, but it's not going anywhere. Drink or hold, either way you'll be happy.
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After 1 hour decanting this was singing. The initial bite is totally gone. This decanted well. Fruity nose (note. I would not decant past 2 hours as it begins to fade).
Dry back end with a light sour cherry in the front and the back.
Rich dark body with a hint of garnet. The sour cherry integrates after an hour or so decanting. Some floral notes begin to emerge on the nose with a dry back end. The decant was very (positively) impactful. It may even be worth another point? As a side note, straight from the bottle without the decant at best this was a 92.
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Courtesy of tlv. Today would have been the day we attended the annual zinfandel retrospective and R&D's, and of course this would have been one of the ten year old warm ups, so it's fitting that we get to taste it today after all. Candied raspberry and cherry notes along with a lavender overtone. Blueberry and violet qualities emerge with air. Darker fruit on the palate, though very much forward and bright. Black raspberry and spice notes linger on the finish.
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First of 3. This is drinking very nicely now. Lots of red fruit, quite bright, with good acidity, and tannins that are present by not obtrusive. Paired well with a few different foods. I agree that the drinking window on these goes for another 5 years, but they are also accessible and pleasurable now.
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Decanted for an hour. Intense raspberry and blackberry notes with plum, black cherry and baking spice. Full bodied with a balance of ripe fruit, fresh acidity and tannins that softened over time. Medium long finish.
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Both wines were pulled as a result of the Ridge virtual tasting today. The panalists featured the 2013 among the 4 wines they tasted, but we pulled the 2010 once the 2013 ran out during dinner. The 2013 is magenta frm core to rim with a nose of brown sugar, zin funk, blueberry, and boysenberry. It’s a very elegant nose. The drinking window of “over the next 10 years” per John Olney’s notes from 2014 suggest that we are really just in the drinking window. As Eric Baugher remarked during the tasting both this wine and the 2013 Geyeserville they tasted can easily go 20 years. This is a delicious and very approachable wine with the palate tracking the nose but the added element of coffee on the finish. It’s a wine of structure and elegance; perhaps a touch linear just now. Heavy sediment has developed from phenols precipitating out. The 2010 is a lesser wine, but a good wine nonetheless. Flavors of brown sugar, molasses, zin bramble berries carry the day. A touch of rhubarb on the nose. The wine lacks the heft of the 2013. The 2010 is a blend of 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah and 7% Carignane and 3% Mourvedre. The 2013 is a blend of 74% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah and 8% Carignane and 2% Mourvedre. Both throw heavy sediment with the 2013 throwing more. The 2010 ha 14.4% alc., while the 2013 has 14.3% alc. Both with homemade mushroom tart. Both Recommended with the 2013 preferred.
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Reading the description on the bottle of the vintage, I was intrigued about how the growing season was the coolest in 40 years, but then in late August a heat wave burned the grape clusters and reduced the crop by 50%. But the reminder turned out to be good with firm acidity. Anyway, the wine did turn out well and I am enjoying this bottle, my last one out of 6, with its dark red fruits, bramble, some mint and forest floor and a medium finish. But this vintage probably should be consumer sooner than later.
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More dark cherry and blackberry in profile with apparent oak poking in and out between the cool and fresh eucalyptus note, providing such a lift and character, but still that oak is not at all tamed by time and integration.
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Fully resolved tannins, but still quite primary. If you like your "Zins" on the fresher, fruitier side, this one is ready to go. If you want secondary and tertiary characteristics, give it another 3-5 years.
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This is a great wine. Well balanced, with plenty of dark fruit, well integrated tannins and a long, lingering finish. I wish I had more bottles. It went very well with a steak on the barbecue.
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This bottle was absolutely singing. Blackberry, boysenberry, licorice, fig, traces of oak. Tannins are nicely integrated and left a great impression. YEARS left.
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We went to Ridge with another couple this weekend. After the tour and tasting I asked about older vintages of Geyserville and Lytton Springs. Our host was kind enough to open a 2009 & 2011 Geyserville and 2010 Lytton Springs. All three were very good. The 2010 Lytton Springs was the most tannic of the bunch. It was a little closed and clearly needed more time. I believe this will improve. This was popped and poured. Decant or let it rest imo. 92+
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Jim n Mike n Deb. Same as Alex wearing the age well. This has years and years. May never go bad, just change over time. Evolved over 4 hours from a Magn delicious
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These Zinfandels get so much better as they age. This was a blend of 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane and 3% Mataro, this is aged in American Oak for 14 months. This was still so fresh with blackberry, darker red cooked fruit, along with fig, liquorice, and a peppery finish.
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Not really sure where some of the recent reviews are coming from... bottle was recently purchased directly from Ridge library and the wine was absolutely singing. Great balance with beautiful earthy fruit and spicy nuance.
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Score is generous. Took to a wine-centric party, and the bottle was one of the very few that were still half full at the end of the evening. Same complaints as with the last one - minimal fruit, more than enough earthiness, and, generally speaking, pretty flat and lifeless. Glad it was my last one.
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Surprisingly much cabernet on the nose, with dry prunes and blackkurrant. The oak shows itself through mint and vanilla. Tannins are fine and smooth, acidity medium plus. Long taste. Really nice and much life left in it!
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Similar notes as last time as this wine has dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. However, I would recommend that you consider drinking up this vintage in the near-term.
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Expected better, rather one dimensional with a vegetal edge to the palate. Will drink the remainders over next few years and see if any change, maybe a dumb phase but I don't think so.
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Took to a party, where it received a tepid response. I suspect that if it had a less exalted name on its label, the crowd's reaction would have been more negative. Earthy, with plums. No berries and no bramble. Not unpleasant, but it was dull and lifeless.
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This wine has dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. Like I posted with the last bottle, it is definitely a mature wine and I think it has 2 or 3 years left before it declines.
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decanted one hour. this is rounding out some from the last bottle, about 2.5 years ago. still sturdy, petite sirah still testifying in the blend; moderate tannins scraping on the finish. shows more potential for continued cellaring & while not exactly charming, remains a testament to the consistency of the wines from Ridge & this site. well-chosen food to accompany is key.
Opened and decanted after tasting. Substantial wine. Rather tannic initially settled down after 2 hrs open, 1 hr decanted. Seems like it’s got a lot of life left I’ll revisit ina year or two.
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I am having another good experience with this wine. It is very delicious to drink right now. I have the same notes as last time with dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. It is definitely a mature wine and I think it has 2 or 3 years left before it declines.
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Expressive nose with dark cherries and secondary notes as tobacco, sage and wet earth. Supple and fleshy on the palate with pronounced acidity providing freshness. Less primary and much more complex than some years ago.
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After reading Night Train's review, I thought I should open a bottle of this since i have 6 of them. I find it to be in good condition with dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. It is definitely a mature wine and they probably should be consumed in the next few years.
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Looks like I'm an outlier. Only was able to give it 30 to 45 minutes of air in fairly large glasses. Dark and brooding. I used to drink a lot of Ridge zinfandels (and zin blends), and they were always somewhat funky and earthy. However, funk and earth were about all I got from this one. Rather dull, with some plums, but no berries and no bramble. Reasonably rich, with a good finish, but it wasn't all that enjoyable. My first of three bottles, and I guess I'll wait awhile on the other two to see if they improve with additional age (although I can't imagine how a wine this old is gonna gain fruit).
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For the Heritage Vineyards charity challenge. At Metlife Stadium in the parking lot tailgate, with grilled ribs and smoked burnt endz.
This is an interesting blend of different varieties than comes together very well. Smooth and integrated with red fruit predominant. Not a jammy zinfandel. There is some spice to balance the fruit. I think my first Lytton Springs was a 1974 that I got at Zachy's in 1976. This has always been a very solid and enjoyable bottle of wine that I know I can count on to deliver pleasure year after year after year.
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Stood up for 4 hours, decanted (1-1/2 hrs). Some medium, a lot of fine sediment. Black center to deep purple edge. Began with ripe blackberry nose. Blackberry, cherry, well balanced in the mouth. Medium-long finish. Kept developing over the next two hours. Nose became more perfumed, notes of licorice, peppermint and dill coming in succession. At the end, the tannin became noticeable. This is maturing and drinking well now. Will have a long life ahead.
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I haven't had a Ridge Lytton Springs in many years. I always liked them but I moved on to other things. Alcohol is a little high at over 14% but it doesn't stick out. Licorice and black cherry, and drinking well now.
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Not much more to say that hasn't already been said. Dark fruit but not a Dry Creek Zin fruit bomb. Earthy like I've come to expect with Ridge wines, dark red and a touch of blue fruit, the perfect amount of oak and a briary finish. Very nice.
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You could imagine this as a milkshake at an Oregon roadside diner. Fresh black fruit: huckleberry, blackberry and the darkest of cherry with enthusiastic toasty vanilla playing a starring role. Hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. Firm tannin back it up in 2017. If this sounds overdone, it's not. A fascinatingly delicious Zinfandel blend.
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Still quite firm yet approachable tannins frame an expressive core of blackberry, dark cherry and pepper. Great acidity and a bright, long finish.
A very structured version of Lytton Springs and at the beginning of a long drinking window (10 years +). The relatively high percentage of Petite Sirah (23%) in this vintage really stands out for me. A great replacement bottle for a corked 2014 Ridge Lytton Estate Petite Sirah we intended to enjoy (first time ever experience with a corked Ridge wine!).
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67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 3% Mataro. 14.7% alcohol. From a half. An interesting comparison to a brace of 1994 Zinfandels drunk over the Christmas period (Frei Ranch and Rocking Horse) in good condition. The Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro in this wine always give it longevity. Even in a half this is a long way from maturit. Bright but none of the complexity which should follow.
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1 hour decant. No sediment. Open for business. Blackberry and spice on the nose, Tastes of same. Great balance. Drinking well now, Years to go? Really enjoying this with some age.
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The Carignane really dominated last night. Somehow, I have a growing suspicion that while I know these wines age really well, I prefer them when the sweetness of the young Zinfandel fruit balances the dry, almost harshly tannic structure of the petite Syrah and/or carignane. But, it is evident that this with some years turns into a more serious red wine, that would have many uses. So perhaps the conclusion is to drink early or save for a longer time period than five-six years?
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Lighter than we expected. Try with appetizers on a warm spring or autumn day M: Nose - floral; Taste - vanilla, acetone S: Nose - mineral, band-aid; Taste - mineral, berry
Boar's Head salami/mozzarella - OK Havarti - OK Blue Cheese - OK, no change
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Slightly woody berry nose - a bit tannic, slightly drying - good depth and richness but excellent supporting acid - I just think a few more yrs in cellar would've ironed out those tannins - a bit chewy - nice wine but needs time.
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Very good. Surprisingly big and bold after a short decant. Deep dark blue/purple/black fruit. Complex and very well integrated. Better than average finish. Nice wine.
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Drank and compared the 2010 Lytton Springs and Geyserville and the G was the clear winner today. Had more of everything, fruit, acidity, tannins etc. Better today but both are young and I´m not so sure it will be better in the long run, I wouldn´t be surprised I prefer LS five years from now when they have matured.
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Still very primary and somewhat monolithic. Dark forest fruit, nuances of warm pastry, vanilla and oak. Soft 'n sweet tannic structure, plush texture. Some distant smokyness. I'd stay stay away for a couple of years or decant half a day in advance. OK value.
started out brawny but once the short ribs entered the equation this was all dark fruit and the perfect co-pilot. seemed a bit more refined than the age matched Geyserville. just a hint of VA noticeable at times.
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Deep ruby with an expressive nose of blackcurrant and liqueur cherries. On the palate there is a big core of dark cherry and cassis in a solid well integrated tannic fame. I am not always a fan of Zinfandel as it can verge on being too jammy, but this keeps to the right side of being a fruit bomb, with a refreshing acidity maintaining balance. The medium long fruity, floral and herbaceous finish is a delightful end to this feminine wine. The tannins will soften down further but, if decanted well in advance, this is enjoyable now.
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The Lytton Springs was a nice complement to braised short ribs. It's still a big, firm wine with a potent tannic and acidic structure to support much longer aging than one normally associates with Zinfandel. Despite having thrown a moderate amount of sediment it is still an incredibly deep purplish ruby. Good complex bouquet of blackberry, blackcurrant, star anise, and pepper. Ditto the palate with an herbal element on the finish. I suspect the next time I try it, the grade will go up. Right now, however, since it's still developing I'll give it an 89.
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A Ridge Lytton Spring Vertical and a few others (our home): So this ended up being the last place wine on six out of eight votes. I think it is so tight and tannic right now that it doesn't show well. Chris, who brought this, opened before hand and poured off a glass for his wife. I think that had the effect of shutting this down tight by the time we got to it. It happens. Purple in color. Black raspberries and cedar on the nose. Also a bit of pencil lead. On the palate, sweet and jammy while also quite tannic. lacking much depth at this point. Also a clay quality that was odd. I would hold these for a while as it is not in the best place right now. I would think it gets better.
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Dunkles Lila Rot Schwarzkirschig,Brombeeren,sehr würzig,bisschen Kräuter,irgendwann auch leicht pflaumig. Leicht gerbstoffgeprägt,balanciert,samtig,vollmundig,rund,gute Säure,gute Tiefe,bisschen Extraktsüsse.. Langer würzig,dunkelfruchtiger Abgang. Gefällt mir auch wieder sehr gut.Ist sofort präsent.
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Fresh and fairly complex nose of blackberry, blackcurrant, jam, tobacco, etc. Full bodied, very fruity, with high acidity and moderate tannins to be further integrated over time. Very enjoyable and easy to drink, without being simplistic.
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Deep, dark ruby red. This is a lovely, complex wine. Upon opening, bright red fruits, tart cherry and chewy tannins. But 24 hours later in opened bottle with a stopper, it has mellowed into a rich fruit compote with a loong finish and mouth watering top notes of red/purple fruits... Plum. Enjoyed with a carne asade quesadilla supreme from Don Tommy's in OB/San Diego, which it handled with aplomb! Great now, with a serious decant... But it will go the distance, so be patient, if you can.
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Nyrørte bjørnebær, blyantspiss, einebær, høy, harpiks, lysbrent kaffe og vanilje. Ganske bløt frukt i munnen, men høy friskhet og faste, overraskende tørrende tanninene. Syren er litt røff og stikkende. Sursøt. Ganske bra fokus. Veldig god konsentrasjon og lengde. Munnen følger opp nesen, men med mer vanilje og kaffe. Fast avslutning. 88p.
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Decanted off the restaurant list for an half an hour or so and drank over the red meat and noodle back end of a gorgeous Chinese meal...... I wish the decant had been longer but the wine still showed all the elegance and good winemaking grace that epitomises Ridge. Wonderfully perfumed and expressive nose and a gorgeous satisfying body. This is the kind of wine you don't mind paying 3x for in a top restaurant compared to retail....... it still punches at that higher price point....in this case nothing else on the wine list would have come near even at twice the price (doncha love Zinfandel). A shame it wasn't the 2005 but it will get there. Give it another 3 years or so to really come into its full glory. I love Ridge Lytton Springs almost unconditionally....the California equivalent of Ch. Musar (e.g. off the well-trodden path but world class and totally with personality).
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Blend of 67% Zinfandel from 80 year old vines with 23% Petite Sirah, 7% of Carignan and 3% of Mourvedre. Compelling nose featuring raspberry marmelade, rose hip, locust bean and tomato paste notes. Round and velvety on the palate with good persistence and breadth.
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3 hour decant. Balanced, juicy, cherry, raspberry, blue fruits, spices, a little oak well integrated, vanilla. Nose wasn't as expressive as I would have liked, but the flavors were so good that I really enjoyed this one.
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Showing a little more oak than expected with a distinct silk note. Black and blue fruit with a enthusiastic freshness and lift. Moderate finish, mild vanilla. Elegant and lovely.
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- Brick color. It's somewhat balanced with a medium/full body. Smooth texture - Maybe a little early but outstanding character after it opens up. Decanted for an hour.
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Perfect with grilled steaks, this showed the typical Ridge balance and freshness to go with the alluring spice on the nose and lush, berry fruits. This has relaxed a good bit since release, but there's plenty of good structure for this to go many miles more.
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Bought four or five bottles of this a few years back. Drank one bottle right away squirreled the rest away. Tonight I opened the second. It is drinking great right now but I suspect it can stand a few more years in the cellar and really be off the charts. Don't get me wrong it is absolutely fine right now but has a brighter future. Walked away for 20 min. or so, it is even better now. Note to self, give it some time.
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37th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2010s (R&D's): Purple crimson color. Cherry, blue fruit and mineral notes with underlying spice and pepper qualities. Develops raspberry, floral and toasted wood notes. Flavors of dark fruit- ripe- hints of raisin and plum. Finishes with good length and hints of pepper.
My #3, Domino's #8 Group #8, 53 pts
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Surprisingly integrated already for a young LS. Pretty brairy-berry fruit, oak and tannin are all fairly well knit, with no one part sticking out; worth noting that it's really the acidity that keeps this one together. Restrained, even by Ridge standards. One might even call it elegant alongside a barbecued pork tenderloin.
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Decanted off the restaurant list for an hour or so...... I wish it had been 3 hours but it was still showing all that elegance and good winemaking grace that epitomises Ridge. This is the kind of wine you don't mind paying 3x for in a top restaurant compared to retail....... it still punches at that higher price point. A shame it wasn't the 2005 but it will get there. Give it another 3 years or so to really come into its full glory. Disclaimer: I love Ridge Lytton Springs almost unconditionally....the California equivalent of Ch. Musar (e.g. off the well-trodden path but world class and totally with personality).
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Juicy dark red fruit, ground black pepper and spice on the nose and on the palate. Good acidity and moderate tannins. Long, initially peppery finish tapering towards mid-tones in the end. Balanced and somewhat restrained for a Zin. Still young, will develop for years. I like this style.
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PnP. Deep dark color. Nose shows a little oak influences over dark fruit. Taste follows nose with a little spice too. Tannins are integrating nicely and don't really get a sense of alcohol.
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Great somewhat restrained zin that still offers a lot of ripe fruit, pleasant aromas of spice and plum, good freshness. Went well with some grilled sirloin steaks.
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Subtle yet sublime. A good piercing nose, needs plenty of time to open up, but yields mixtures of black and red ripe fruit, earth, spice. Great balance and lush juicy ripe fruit complexion.
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I knew this was too young especially without a decanter or good glassware but it was by far the best choice on the restaurant list. Very tight but black fruit, pepper, spice and bramble were all there. 90-91 now but I believe with time much better.
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decanted 30 min. dark purple - red; italian prune plums, blackberry & red raspberry conserve, bramble leaves, wild thyme; med++ weight, not too jammy; more restrained by far than '09, tight bramble fruits & blue plums, leaner than anticipated, w/bright, youthful acids, really jumps w/food & will probably have a lengthy drinking window.
pizza w/hot italian sausage, roasted sungold tomatoes, local mozz, shaved torpedo onions, oregano & basil; mixed summer squashes seared w/sweet corn & green chile, cherokee green tomato & mint pesto
11/26/14 an especially ingratiating bottle tonight; dead-on with supper & very balanced; none of the occasional pruney roasted quality riper vintages can show; petite sirah is noticeable in the blend now and seems like it might always have a presence.
3/11/15 most restrained Lytton at 4 years old tonight in my experience, been purchasing since '91; taut bramble fruit reluctant to show, even after a 45 min. decant; food helps do the trick but this strikes me as needing another year or two, & even then will be on the intense side of the spectrum (still 90+)
Opened up pretty easily. A mouthful of pure plum fruit with a slight peppery finish. Very elegant, but with enough substance to drink on its own. In a really nice place already, but there is no rush to drink.
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Brambly blackberry, blueberry, graphite, pepper, spice. Not as big or rich as the 2009, but a good enough Zinfandel. Paired nicely with barbeque pork ribs.
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Ridge Zinfandel 1994-2010 (Brussels): Blue. Gives a cool impression which I like. Crazy good acidity combined with top but balanced fruit. Good now! My WOTN!
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We had the 2010 Geyserville the other day and the comparison is interesting as we find that Lytton Springs usually is more attractive to us than the G-ville. But with this vintage it is the opposite. We love both and are thinking of making them our first ever yearly wine subscription.
LS is simply not yet integrated and consists of great components rather than the multiplication of its parts. M++ acids, M+ tannin, long, full bodied taste with Petit Sirah more restrained than in G-ville. Even if this is a rather bold wine, the firm acidity makes it a little brittle as it also pierces through the fruit in the late mid-palate.
However, this is a very beautiful wine, and it worked well with all dishes except the salty, strong tasting green cheese with caramel overtones and of Japanese make (and of course faceplanted with dessert). Decanted at home for 3 hrs. We will keep the remaining two btls for at least five more yrs. Wife: 90p. Enjoyed at fabulous Restaurant Tani (2nd visit this week!) in Gaienmae (Tokyo).
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Decanted more than one hour. Vibrant nose of fresh blueberries and blackberries. Medium to full bodied, delivering supple and juicy dark berries likewise the nose with firm and smooth tannins and a gentle kiss of oak. Delicious stuff. Drinking already nicely.
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Way back in the early '80s I was attending a meeting in San Francisco. On a day off I rented a car and set off with a friend for an impromptu tour of the wine country. We chanced upon Lytton Springs Winery and on a whim drove in. The winery was a smallish metal building in the midst of these incredibly old gnarly looking vines/stumps. It was late May and the buds were breaking. A soft spoken man came out of the building and we introduced ourselves. His name was Walt (I think) and he was originally from Mississippi, retired from the military and the owner of the winery. He welcomed us inside and we proceeded to taste wine from several vintages and some from barrel prior to the final assemblage. It was an awesome experience and one that I will never forget. The vineyard is now owned by Ridge and the metal building has been replaced by a modern, eco-friendly structure devoted to making extraordinary Zinfandel-based wines. The 2010 version is no exception. At present the nose is a bit restrained with the promise of lush berries upon maturity. On the palate, the fruit is big and monolithic but again with the promise of blossoming into a wonderful Zin blend. The aftertaste lasts at least 30 seconds. As the back label indicates, 2010 was a challenging year for Lytton Springs, but the stuff in the bottle is a testament to the skills of Paul Draper, et al in a difficult year. Bravo! This wine will be great in a few years. I'm going to buy more this afternoon.
Excellent and very young. Bright red raspberry and black currents hit you up front. Vigorously decanted. If you want to drink this now it needs a few hours of decanting. This wine was good but will be great with about 5 years of age on it.
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big round berry fruit, good tannins, nice on its own but i wish i had a steak to go with. I'd like to compare this with an eight or ten year old lytton springs. I found it shorter than the 2011 Geyserville.
I think this might be more of a food wine than the Geyserville I'd preferred
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From a half bottle. This is just phenomenal, balanced Zinfandel. I gave it a hard decant and stuck my nose in the decanter and breathed deep. Tons of explosive zinberry notes, with a bit of vanilla and spice. Really bright though. I think if I could have only smelled it all evening, it would have been enough.
Yet the parade of awesome continues on the palate. It's really a lot of zinberry and blueberry, similar to the nose, but without most of the rough spice. There's some tannic structure, perhaps a bit less than usual with the Lytton bottlings. It's mainly just exceptionally friendly right now. There's enough acidity too that it's really bright and not one of these fat, heavy zins that just sits there. There's enough of all this in here to keep it going for several years in the half bottle format. I would imagine longer for a full bottle.
The finish is unremarkable, but not much of a detractor from how great this is overall. Another "new world-old world" masterpiece from the wine drinker's friends at Ridge.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of cherry, blackberry, sandalwood, plum, vanilla and pepper. Rich, velvety plum and blackberries with well balanced tannins on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Medium to full bodied. Paired with four cheese pasta.
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berry briar patch potpourri, cranberry/black pepper, salty component like opening a processed ham lunch meat package
cran-grape stem, dark dark fruit, rich black cherry, dirty greenery, awesome structure with a pretty long finish, sweet herbaceous like a new stick of juicy fruit gum black cherry, blueberry, cranberry/bosenberry tannins for the finish
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Decanted 2hrs. Eggplant purple with a redish tint when held to the light. The zinfandel really comes through on the nose showing some restrained jam and floral notes. The palate is fairly straightforward, jam, red fruit and dust, and on night two an inky characteristic (think ballpoint pen) came out which was very nice. Tannins are still very strong and the flavors need some time to come together as well. This will drink very nice with some age on it (5+ more years).
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A nose of bold cherries and spice, dark black garnet in color. A full bodied Zin blend, with black cherry, blackberry, plum, some herbs, layered long spiced finish. A very good and interesting blend. www.winelx.com
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More Bordeaux in style than California, although it had the weight and alcohol of a California wine. Blueberry, black cherry fruit is not overwhelmed by oak, which I happen to like in this wine. A little sour aftertaste that either went away with time or I got used to it.
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Much too young, but I was looking for a baseline. Nose of blueberry, herbs and some cherry. Similar palate with plenty of tannin. I will hold two plus years on this.
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A big inky zin in a balanced claret style. Dark ripe cherries, cedar, and spice on the nose. Firm but approachable tannins, earth, leather and spice on the palate. Still very young but will develop beautifully with age. Hold.
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Crushed forest fruit nose with energetic berry aromas - sweet but bright. Some fattiness, mushrooms, olives and some sweet vanillary oak. Fullbodied and refreshingly crispy palate with meaty weight of sweet berry fun and some grip as well. Olives, charcoal and slight mocha to vanilla oak pushing through in the long finish. Lovely clean and bright fruit backed by fine acidity and more savoury depths. Will be better in years to come, but rather yummy as it is.
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Young, buttery, fleshy and potent, this wine lasted well into the evening and didn't let up on its restraint. Nevertheless this is drinking nicely and I anticipate that it will only get better. One of the more full-bodied Zins I've had in a while, which is nice.
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Sweet nose - a light wine with no elements of petite syrah. Very tannic and despite adding syrah, the finish is relatively short. Body is lacking a little bit but overall a balanced wine. May need to be laid down longer.
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Splash decant and shake. Smokey vanila and berries on the nose. Balanced and lush. Blackberry, cherry and spice flavors. Still a bit oaky right now. Needs a year or five to tame the oak. Be a good wine to cellar for a while. Hard to deny there is great fruit here. Paid $30 which is about right for the wine.
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Classic zinfandel aromas, with some notable petit sirah darkness. This is giving both on the nose and on the palate, with tannic grip and a lasting finish that suggests the best years are ahead.
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Much lighter-bodied than recent vintages, spicy, but hot, with alcohol on the nose and finish. Perhaps that will integrate with time, but is not well-balanced now. A shame, because under the heat, it is an elegant, classic Ridge.
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Clear, lovely cassis colour with pink rim, fat and long legs. Clean, full intensity, with aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla, faint raspberries and red licorice. Dry, med - body, med alcohol, med - tannins, med - acidity, reasonable complexity with further tastes of pomegranate, candy floss, and strawberry jam. A lighter Ridge wine, with a med finish. Would highly recommend to those who would love to drink a full, fruity red wine without the tannins.
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Lots of fruit up front. The zin quality showed stronger over the next 3 hours. Tannins were almost non-existent at first, but changed after 30 minutes to an hour. Nice zin
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After my 4th vintage of this wine, I've decided I'm drinking these entirely too early. Deep, rich, black and red fruit palate, with earthy cocoa. Nice acidity and a very subdued herbal aspect that I think will develop with more time in the bottle.
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big brooding dense mixed dark fruit, some black raspberry, big structure, still primary and a bit brawny but more stuffing than any zin that i have tasted this year. Decant or hold
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Big, powerful nose. Full of plump fruits, almost jammy with spices and charcoal. Huge depth if flavour on the palate, but well balanced and quite light on its feet. The tannins are youthful, but fine and very ripe. Layers of rich lush black fruits, woody herbs, a tarry earthy note and a long sweet finish. Excellent.
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Dark plum, dark cherry and a touch of raisin on the nose. Juicy fruit in the palate, a touch tight, but elegant. Powdery tannins. Drinking well, but probably best from end 2013.
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Dark purple. Very ripe fruit on the nose; purple and black fruits. Wonderful clarity of fruit, with density and tannic structure to spare. Flexes copious tannins on the medium finish, no doubt from the 1/3rd Petit Syrah. Ought to have long life, but is still probably best within its first 5-7 years (IMHO); 90-91.
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One of my favorite California producers. 2010 was a difficult vintage, looks like Ridge was very selective for Lytton. Kind of spoiled with back to back great Ridge Zin vintages, so 2010 is a more of the old school austere offering that reminds me of their wines released in the 90s. It' s a bit tannic and structured, the fruit is there, but this will be for the cellar, at least short term cellaring. Needs 2+ hours of decanting, still has some bite.
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Drank over 2 days, raisin, cherry, licorice and definite jamminess in the nose. Lost its fruit and was hotter day 2 but still very nice. Just a hair better than the east bench 100% zin we had side by side.
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If you like full-throttled Zin blends like the Prisoner, as I do, then you probably will be disappointed by this wine. It's a fairly restrained offering, and it doesn't have the complexity or power to justify the $35 I paid for it.
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I like this, but agree with the previous reviewer who characterized this as restrained and also with the cost for the pleasure received. There are a number of zins in the under $20 and the $20-$30 price range that delivered as much or more. I've been a big Ridge fan for years, but haven't purchased for awhile and given the prices, I'll probably turn my attention elsewhere looking for for more pleasure and a lower cost.
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Fresh, flashy nose with deep aromas of freshly cut fruit, citrus rind, matchstick. Midpalate still a bit primary with dark berry notes, cranberry, chalk, sweet oak. This bottle really stood out for it's long, lively and complex finish. Surpisingly open for a young LS. 91+
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Plenty of raspberry and blackberry fruit backed up by spices, pepper, graphite, underbrush, beef tartare, and chocolate-licorice twist. This is balanced with a solid structure and a long finish. I think this wine is built to last a decade with some room for improvement as fleshes out. Composed of 67% zinfandel, 23% petite sirah, 7% carignane, 3% mataro(mourvedre). (Best 2013-2020)
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Lush nose of rich black berry fruit with spice notes. Jammy berry flavors carry through to the palate, which finishes with a touch of spice and tannin. Enjoyable now; will be interesting to see how it develops.
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50th Harvest Anniversary Celebration at Ridge (Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello): Carmine color with fresh dark fruit, kirsch, brown sugar, and herbal aromas. On the palate it's medium-bodied, fresh, round and with a nervy acidity, and black cherry and spice flavors. Long finish. Approachable now but will get better with time. 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 3% Mataro.
www.enofylzwineblog.com
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Av og til trenger det ikke være elegant. Dog elegant for en Zin, etter min erfaring. "det lukter litt Rhone, men det er det ikke. Dette er gryterettvin", sa min kjære fru umiddelbart. 23% petite sirah (sic), bjørnebær, krekling og en viss patos i frukten. Pen fylde gjennom hele kurven, ikke merkbar 14%. ikke mye lengde. Godt til chili con carne
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- Crimsom color with fast forming legs and aromas of cedar and black pepper. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of black currant, tobacco and smokey with a medium/full body. Leathery texture with a short finish - All pencil shavings on the nose. the wine needs to sit, alcohol blow off is present. needs cellar time, at least another 3-5 years. Good promise though.
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1/13/2024 - Zorg wrote:
Coravin. Very good. Blind I would have guessed CdP/southern Rhone. Sweet dark red fruits with some oak. Pronounced acidity and tannins but very balanced. 91 p.
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11/10/2023 - thestuer wrote: 93 Points
2023 Ridge Montebello harvest dinner. Tastings were focused on cool-year wines, and 2010 was one of those late harvest years.
Simply a magical window for this wine right now. Still a mostly ruby color. Incredibly bright nose with a beautiful ripe finish and nice acid. Surprisingly fruit forward for a cool year wine, and a very refined finish.
Paired with a garlic and thyme mushroom galette with fontina cheese.
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10/20/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had a lot, wish I had more. Very nice blend in a great drinking window.
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10/18/2023 - nanoose wrote:
Wow. Nose is dark fruit and heavy wet leather, more dark fruit on the palate with chocolate. Long finish. Will hold but I doubt it will improve
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8/5/2023 - timewithwine Likes this wine:
A blend of 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, and 3% Mourvedre. A beautiful bouquet fills the nose with plum, Zin funk, molasses, a bit of rhubarb, some coffee and mocha mixed in as well. Much the same on the palate with coffee, mocha, and vanilla on the finish. The resolved, round tannins are well integrated, while the fruit remains fresh and lively. Crisp acidity results in a well-balanced wine that delivers much pleasure. Some serious sediment. 14.4% alc. With pepperoni pizza. 08.05.23. Recommended.
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11/6/2022 - drmarclevine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just a wonderful bottle of Ridge Zin. Deep black cherry, damp wood chips, and a big hit of bay leaf on the nose. Dark raspberry and creamy cola balanced by strong acidity and a mouth-cleansing, fresh finish. Beautifully harmonious package and an insane QPR. Best Ridge I've had in a while. Will hold but can't imagine a better showing. Bravo!
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9/30/2022 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Forgot to take notes, but this bottle drank really nicely. It is now pretty mature and in nice balance, but I also think it will last a few more years.
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9/11/2022 - Lord Marc Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was my last one. It was excellent, mild tannins great balance if you have some don't wait too long. No decanting needed.
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9/3/2022 - Vandiner wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully.
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4/16/2022 - cweiss Likes this wine:
My first of these, and a real delight. Classic Lytton Springs. Drink or hold a few more years.
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3/25/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine: 93 Points
The preceding three notes beautifully describe this wine. I’m just here to supply my score and note that this is a voluptuous Lytton Springs likely at peak now, though based on experience with Ridge Zins like this one, it will remain in its prime drinking window through at least 2025. Galloni scored it 93+ with a drinking window to 2030.
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3/18/2022 - kuumies wrote:
The nose is a delight: full of extremely vibrant, ripe dark fruits along with smoked meat, dry wood and a leafy note. There’s blackcurrant, blackberry and some dark cherry in this most wonderful dark fruit salad of a nose that is borderline haunting. The palate is larger and riper than what I tend to enjoy normally but all the pieces fit well and exist in harmony. There is plenty of structure here in the way of sticky tannins and juicy acidity and as such the wine comes off as lively and chewy and overall I find the palate youthful with a very fruit-forward character. For my palate this probably has another 5-10 years to go before achieving maturity but there is need to cry myself to sleep tonight for opening it too early. I don’t know if I’ll ever return to buying these wines again because the Euro availability is what it is and France and Italy serve my needs so well but I’m certainly happy I had bought this bottle way back when.
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2/11/2022 - redbeams wrote: 90 Points
Lovely, but a bit faded.
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1/15/2022 - gkentm wrote: 92 Points
This wine has been properly cellared. I took it out of the cellar two days before opening it. Dark purple in the glass without signs of bricking. A fruit, spice, and flower combination on the nose with, dark berry, strawberry, baking spices and dark rose. Moderate dryness, with fine, integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Complex palate of blackberry and savory spices, lingers for a long finish. Surprisingly, I believe this 2010 Zin-based blend still has upside development potential. Kudos to the winemaker.
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12/26/2021 - BRR wrote:
Not decanted, served in GlassVin Universal stems. Purchased winery-direct. This was really good and showing its peak drinking window. That said, I've heard that Lytton Springs can age well, but I think this is fantastic right now. Still lots of fruit (loganberry, raspberry) with a really unique green tobacco / green peppercorn note running through. Round and polished, with a long finish. Not really much tannic presence anymore, but definitely not showing its age either. Really great with a Flanner NY strip.
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9/26/2021 - drmarclevine Likes this wine: 93 Points
An excellent bottle of Ridge Zin. Needed about 30 minutes of air to get started. Zin berries, flat Dr. Pepper, and cloves mingling beautifully in the glass. Dark raspberries, cola, and something approaching dark chocolate on the palate. Cigar ash began to emerge in the second hour. Round and fruity but balanced by plenty of spice and bright acidity. Right in the sweet spot. At or approaching peak. May gain a bit more complexity but absolutely no reason to wait. Great effort and an incredible value. Punches way above its weight.
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5/18/2021 - asheio wrote: 93 Points
Has developed very well. Lots of fruit left and gained complexity.
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1/25/2021 - Shiv K Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rock & roll! Wow.
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11/8/2020 - pigdaddy wrote: 91 Points
decanted for notable sediment; deeply-colored center to amethyst at the edges; early on, a bit roasted on the nose, but after an hour+, mulled brambleberries, incense & baking spice; full-bodied; ripe, w/slight burnt caramel note, mulberry jam, black peppered-finish.
choose assertive food with this for the next several years, still on the bigger-framed side.
pizza with 'nduja & smoked ricotta
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10/23/2020 - moxielady wrote: 93 Points
Smooth and well balanced
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10/5/2020 - stokeme Likes this wine: 94 Points
I tip my hat to Ridge for their consistent commitment to quality & years of education about Zin terroir/single vineyards. The art of Zin blending ...
Lytton Springs - primary Petite Sirah, vs Geyserville - primary Carignane.
This 2010 Lytton is very satisfying. Vibrant dark berry fruit perfume on the nose. Mature dark berry on the palette, completely integrated tannins, lingering acidity still remaining, it tastes like the best Zin fruit leather.
My last of 4, what a great journey through a wine’s life.
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9/28/2020 - WetRock wrote:
Robust ripe Zin fruits still. Substantial yet a bit linear. The build is really nice and this has come to a good place for it. It's a pretty, classic Zin build expressing nicely now. Maybe a touch riper than I would prefer but the classic lines and build make that welcome to the party. Lots of fruit here still. This is in a nice spot. Those liking a mature expression should still hold.
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9/19/2020 - Karl Kellar wrote: 97 Points
I realize I give this a higher score than other tasters. To me, this was close to the perfect zinfandel. Very complex on nose and palate. This could easily be a high end chateaneuf du pape. Smooth, sweet fruit on entry, long finish, spicy, a really great wine. It is in a perfect driniking window, but it's not going anywhere. Drink or hold, either way you'll be happy.
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9/6/2020 - cab blends Likes this wine: 95 Points
After 1 hour decanting this was singing. The initial bite is totally gone. This decanted well. Fruity nose (note. I would not decant past 2 hours as it begins to fade).
Dry back end with a light sour cherry in the front and the back.
Rich dark body with a hint of garnet. The sour cherry integrates after an hour or so decanting. Some floral notes begin to emerge on the nose with a dry back end. The decant was very (positively) impactful. It may even be worth another point? As a side note, straight from the bottle without the decant at best this was a 92.
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8/31/2020 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Nose: B++/A- Palate: B+ Tasted blind.
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7/25/2020 - Kbentley007 Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a fantastic spot right now. The nose was amazing!
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5/24/2020 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
This was singing on this night. Blueberry and raspberry with spice notes.
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5/24/2020 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Courtesy of tlv. Today would have been the day we attended the annual zinfandel retrospective and R&D's, and of course this would have been one of the ten year old warm ups, so it's fitting that we get to taste it today after all. Candied raspberry and cherry notes along with a lavender overtone. Blueberry and violet qualities emerge with air. Darker fruit on the palate, though very much forward and bright. Black raspberry and spice notes linger on the finish.
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5/16/2020 - moxielady wrote: 92 Points
drinking well, dark fruit and still nice acid and tannin balance. probably still several years to go
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5/15/2020 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 92 Points
First of 3. This is drinking very nicely now. Lots of red fruit, quite bright, with good acidity, and tannins that are present by not obtrusive. Paired well with a few different foods. I agree that the drinking window on these goes for another 5 years, but they are also accessible and pleasurable now.
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5/3/2020 - boredo Likes this wine:
Decanted for an hour. Intense raspberry and blackberry notes with plum, black cherry and baking spice. Full bodied with a balance of ripe fruit, fresh acidity and tannins that softened over time. Medium long finish.
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4/16/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
Both wines were pulled as a result of the Ridge virtual tasting today. The panalists featured the 2013 among the 4 wines they tasted, but we pulled the 2010 once the 2013 ran out during dinner. The 2013 is magenta frm core to rim with a nose of brown sugar, zin funk, blueberry, and boysenberry. It’s a very elegant nose. The drinking window of “over the next 10 years” per John Olney’s notes from 2014 suggest that we are really just in the drinking window. As Eric Baugher remarked during the tasting both this wine and the 2013 Geyeserville they tasted can easily go 20 years. This is a delicious and very approachable wine with the palate tracking the nose but the added element of coffee on the finish. It’s a wine of structure and elegance; perhaps a touch linear just now. Heavy sediment has developed from phenols precipitating out. The 2010 is a lesser wine, but a good wine nonetheless. Flavors of brown sugar, molasses, zin bramble berries carry the day. A touch of rhubarb on the nose. The wine lacks the heft of the 2013. The 2010 is a blend of 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah and 7% Carignane and 3% Mourvedre. The 2013 is a blend of 74% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah and 8% Carignane and 2% Mourvedre. Both throw heavy sediment with the 2013 throwing more. The 2010 ha 14.4% alc., while the 2013 has 14.3% alc. Both with homemade mushroom tart. Both Recommended with the 2013 preferred.
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3/5/2020 - moxielady wrote: 91 Points
Bright, acidic. Not as jammy as some and tannins are mellow. Drink now.
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11/24/2019 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
Reading the description on the bottle of the vintage, I was intrigued about how the growing season was the coolest in 40 years, but then in late August a heat wave burned the grape clusters and reduced the crop by 50%. But the reminder turned out to be good with firm acidity. Anyway, the wine did turn out well and I am enjoying this bottle, my last one out of 6, with its dark red fruits, bramble, some mint and forest floor and a medium finish. But this vintage probably should be consumer sooner than later.
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11/15/2019 - 83Vintage wrote: 91 Points
More dark cherry and blackberry in profile with apparent oak poking in and out between the cool and fresh eucalyptus note, providing such a lift and character, but still that oak is not at all tamed by time and integration.
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10/18/2019 - AndersAnd Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastisk Lytton, en av de beste jeg har smakt. Perfekt.
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10/12/2019 - MLipton wrote:
Fully resolved tannins, but still quite primary. If you like your "Zins" on the fresher, fruitier side, this one is ready to go. If you want secondary and tertiary characteristics, give it another 3-5 years.
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9/7/2019 - Putte Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a great wine. Well balanced, with plenty of dark fruit, well integrated tannins and a long, lingering finish. I wish I had more bottles. It went very well with a steak on the barbecue.
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8/7/2019 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
This bottle was absolutely singing. Blackberry, boysenberry, licorice, fig, traces of oak. Tannins are nicely integrated and left a great impression. YEARS left.
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8/3/2019 - LC17SMP Likes this wine: 92 Points
We went to Ridge with another couple this weekend. After the tour and tasting I asked about older vintages of Geyserville and Lytton Springs. Our host was kind enough to open a 2009 & 2011 Geyserville and 2010 Lytton Springs. All three were very good. The 2010 Lytton Springs was the most tannic of the bunch. It was a little closed and clearly needed more time. I believe this will improve. This was popped and poured. Decant or let it rest imo. 92+
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7/11/2019 - tplskylrk wrote:
Jim n Mike n Deb. Same as Alex wearing the age well. This has years and years. May never go bad, just change over time. Evolved over 4 hours from a Magn delicious
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7/6/2019 - adnorthup Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely delicious right now on PnP. Drink up
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6/29/2019 - Zorg wrote: 88 Points
High acidity that demands food.
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6/28/2019 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 96 Points
These Zinfandels get so much better as they age. This was a blend of 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane and 3% Mataro, this is aged in American Oak for 14 months. This was still so fresh with blackberry, darker red cooked fruit, along with fig, liquorice, and a peppery finish.
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5/22/2019 - Madkat Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not really sure where some of the recent reviews are coming from... bottle was recently purchased directly from Ridge library and the wine was absolutely singing. Great balance with beautiful earthy fruit and spicy nuance.
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5/18/2019 - goldgarf wrote: 79 Points
Not very good. some berry flavors, but does not work well overall
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4/27/2019 - Night Train wrote: 85 Points
Score is generous. Took to a wine-centric party, and the bottle was one of the very few that were still half full at the end of the evening. Same complaints as with the last one - minimal fruit, more than enough earthiness, and, generally speaking, pretty flat and lifeless. Glad it was my last one.
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4/5/2019 - df1962 wrote: 87 Points
Wine Boys Brown Bag Mystery Tasting (DF's House): PnD let air for 1hr. Tasted blind.
Fruit forward. Plum blackcherry. Lots of volatile acidity. Racy blackberry finish. Can't get past the acetone notes. Drink up if you have them.
Guessed new world and Zin.
Fourth (out of five) favourite of the night.
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3/30/2019 - MrBjorn wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly much cabernet on the nose, with dry prunes and blackkurrant. The oak shows itself through mint and vanilla. Tannins are fine and smooth, acidity medium plus. Long taste. Really nice and much life left in it!
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2/21/2019 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
Similar notes as last time as this wine has dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. The acidity is noticeable too.
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2/14/2019 - CharleneK Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needs some time in the glass to soften a bit. Bright acidity complements grilled burgers very well!!
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2/3/2019 - JM_MadTown wrote: 88 Points
Similar notes as last time as this wine has dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. However, I would recommend that you consider drinking up this vintage in the near-term.
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1/27/2019 - neiljh wrote: 88 Points
Expected better, rather one dimensional with a vegetal edge to the palate. Will drink the remainders over next few years and see if any change, maybe a dumb phase but I don't think so.
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10/20/2018 - Night Train wrote: 85 Points
Took to a party, where it received a tepid response. I suspect that if it had a less exalted name on its label, the crowd's reaction would have been more negative. Earthy, with plums. No berries and no bramble. Not unpleasant, but it was dull and lifeless.
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10/4/2018 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine has dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. Like I posted with the last bottle, it is definitely a mature wine and I think it has 2 or 3 years left before it declines.
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8/15/2018 - pigdaddy wrote: 90 Points
decanted one hour. this is rounding out some from the last bottle, about 2.5 years ago. still sturdy, petite sirah still testifying in the blend; moderate tannins scraping on the finish. shows more potential for continued cellaring & while not exactly charming, remains a testament to the consistency of the wines from Ridge & this site. well-chosen food to accompany is key.
griddled burger w/cherokee purple tomato & chipotle ketchup
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6/17/2018 - Sgt Pepper Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and decanted after tasting. Substantial wine. Rather tannic initially settled down after 2 hrs open, 1 hr decanted. Seems like it’s got a lot of life left I’ll revisit ina year or two.
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6/15/2018 - Zorg wrote: 91 Points
Much better than 2 years ago but vill probably be even better in 2-3 years.
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5/3/2018 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 91 Points
I am having another good experience with this wine. It is very delicious to drink right now. I have the same notes as last time with dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. It is definitely a mature wine and I think it has 2 or 3 years left before it declines.
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4/30/2018 - Balthasar wrote: 91 Points
Expressive nose with dark cherries and secondary notes as tobacco, sage and wet earth. Supple and fleshy on the palate with pronounced acidity providing freshness. Less primary and much more complex than some years ago.
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4/29/2018 - psundberg wrote: 92 Points
Getting better with age. Very smooth and elegant for a Zin blend. Well done.
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4/25/2018 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 90 Points
After reading Night Train's review, I thought I should open a bottle of this since i have 6 of them. I find it to be in good condition with dark red fruits, some bramble, mint, forest floor and a medium finish. It is definitely a mature wine and they probably should be consumed in the next few years.
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4/21/2018 - Night Train wrote: 85 Points
Looks like I'm an outlier. Only was able to give it 30 to 45 minutes of air in fairly large glasses. Dark and brooding. I used to drink a lot of Ridge zinfandels (and zin blends), and they were always somewhat funky and earthy. However, funk and earth were about all I got from this one. Rather dull, with some plums, but no berries and no bramble. Reasonably rich, with a good finish, but it wasn't all that enjoyable. My first of three bottles, and I guess I'll wait awhile on the other two to see if they improve with additional age (although I can't imagine how a wine this old is gonna gain fruit).
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12/23/2017 - ruth3 wrote:
lots of juicy brambly dark red fruit, bright acidity, persistent tannins. Needs big food, air and a little time?
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12/3/2017 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 90 Points
For the Heritage Vineyards charity challenge. At Metlife Stadium in the parking lot tailgate, with grilled ribs and smoked burnt endz.
This is an interesting blend of different varieties than comes together very well. Smooth and integrated with red fruit predominant. Not a jammy zinfandel. There is some spice to balance the fruit. I think my first Lytton Springs was a 1974 that I got at Zachy's in 1976. This has always been a very solid and enjoyable bottle of wine that I know I can count on to deliver pleasure year after year after year.
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10/19/2017 - pickhardt wrote: 90 Points
Dark and maybe not bright, but complex and interesting. A real treat to find this currently on the shelf at my local wine store.
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10/6/2017 - Cadby wrote: 94 Points
Broad and expansive, this Ridge blend hits every note. It needs an hour on glass, but it delivers the goods. Still youthful, what a stunning wine!
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9/11/2017 - timbobwhite Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stood up for 4 hours, decanted (1-1/2 hrs). Some medium, a lot of fine sediment. Black center to deep purple edge. Began with ripe blackberry nose. Blackberry, cherry, well balanced in the mouth. Medium-long finish. Kept developing over the next two hours. Nose became more perfumed, notes of licorice, peppermint and dill coming in succession. At the end, the tannin became noticeable. This is maturing and drinking well now. Will have a long life ahead.
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9/8/2017 - td1836 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great nose, much more expressive than last time I had this. Fruit is tart and juicy. Good, restrained style.
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9/7/2017 - shank Likes this wine: 89 Points
A bit more subdued than last bottle. Lost some of its fruit but still well integrated.
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6/18/2017 - Diane (LI) wrote:
I haven't had a Ridge Lytton Springs in many years. I always liked them but I moved on to other things. Alcohol is a little high at over 14% but it doesn't stick out. Licorice and black cherry, and drinking well now.
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6/3/2017 - psundberg Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not much more to say that hasn't already been said. Dark fruit but not a Dry Creek Zin fruit bomb. Earthy like I've come to expect with Ridge wines, dark red and a touch of blue fruit, the perfect amount of oak and a briary finish. Very nice.
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5/28/2017 - zoraster Likes this wine: 92 Points
You could imagine this as a milkshake at an Oregon roadside diner. Fresh black fruit: huckleberry, blackberry and the darkest of cherry with enthusiastic toasty vanilla playing a starring role. Hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. Firm tannin back it up in 2017. If this sounds overdone, it's not. A fascinatingly delicious Zinfandel blend.
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5/15/2017 - winelegends.net Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gefällt mir unverändert gut.
Schwarzkirschig,cassis,würzig,dicht ,saftig,viel Körper und Substanz.
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2/6/2017 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still quite firm yet approachable tannins frame an expressive core of blackberry, dark cherry and pepper. Great acidity and a bright, long finish.
A very structured version of Lytton Springs and at the beginning of a long drinking window (10 years +). The relatively high percentage of Petite Sirah (23%) in this vintage really stands out for me. A great replacement bottle for a corked 2014 Ridge Lytton Estate Petite Sirah we intended to enjoy (first time ever experience with a corked Ridge wine!).
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1/26/2017 - sonic23 wrote: 91 Points
Tasting great, great finish.
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12/30/2016 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 86 Points
67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 3% Mataro. 14.7% alcohol. From a half. An interesting comparison to a brace of 1994 Zinfandels drunk over the Christmas period (Frei Ranch and Rocking Horse) in good condition. The Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro in this wine always give it longevity. Even in a half this is a long way from maturit. Bright but none of the complexity which should follow.
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12/17/2016 - timbobwhite Likes this wine: 92 Points
1 hour decant. No sediment. Open for business. Blackberry and spice on the nose, Tastes of same. Great balance. Drinking well now, Years to go? Really enjoying this with some age.
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12/3/2016 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 89 Points
The Carignane really dominated last night. Somehow, I have a growing suspicion that while I know these wines age really well, I prefer them when the sweetness of the young Zinfandel fruit balances the dry, almost harshly tannic structure of the petite Syrah and/or carignane. But, it is evident that this with some years turns into a more serious red wine, that would have many uses. So perhaps the conclusion is to drink early or save for a longer time period than five-six years?
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11/8/2016 - DoberdadinMD Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lighter than we expected. Try with appetizers on a warm spring or autumn day
M: Nose - floral; Taste - vanilla, acetone
S: Nose - mineral, band-aid; Taste - mineral, berry
Boar's Head salami/mozzarella - OK
Havarti - OK
Blue Cheese - OK, no change
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9/17/2016 - winot Likes this wine: 89 Points
Slightly woody berry nose - a bit tannic, slightly drying - good depth and richness but excellent supporting acid - I just think a few more yrs in cellar would've ironed out those tannins - a bit chewy - nice wine but needs time.
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9/6/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good. Surprisingly big and bold after a short decant. Deep dark blue/purple/black fruit. Complex and very well integrated. Better than average finish. Nice wine.
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8/15/2016 - MLipton wrote:
Very young still, lush berryish fruit with an overlay of oak and just enough acid to get by. I'll give my remaining bottles another decade or so.
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8/12/2016 - Zorg wrote: 88 Points
Drank and compared the 2010 Lytton Springs and Geyserville and the G was the clear winner today. Had more of everything, fruit, acidity, tannins etc. Better today but both are young and I´m not so sure it will be better in the long run, I wouldn´t be surprised I prefer LS five years from now when they have matured.
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7/11/2016 - jkoenen wrote: 90 Points
Still very primary and somewhat monolithic. Dark forest fruit, nuances of warm pastry, vanilla and oak. Soft 'n sweet tannic structure, plush texture. Some distant smokyness. I'd stay stay away for a couple of years or decant half a day in advance. OK value.
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7/6/2016 - chcook Likes this wine:
started out brawny but once the short ribs entered the equation this was all dark fruit and the perfect co-pilot. seemed a bit more refined than the age matched Geyserville. just a hint of VA noticeable at times.
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7/4/2016 - nmoreilly Likes this wine: 91 Points
Went perfect with pork tenderloin marinaded in the Mustards Grill Mongolian pork chops marinade
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5/23/2016 - SilverFox65 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby with an expressive nose of blackcurrant and liqueur cherries. On the palate there is a big core of dark cherry and cassis in a solid well integrated tannic fame. I am not always a fan of Zinfandel as it can verge on being too jammy, but this keeps to the right side of being a fruit bomb, with a refreshing acidity maintaining balance. The medium long fruity, floral and herbaceous finish is a delightful end to this feminine wine. The tannins will soften down further but, if decanted well in advance, this is enjoyable now.
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5/21/2016 - ProfBainbridge Likes this wine: 89 Points
The Lytton Springs was a nice complement to braised short ribs. It's still a big, firm wine with a potent tannic and acidic structure to support much longer aging than one normally associates with Zinfandel. Despite having thrown a moderate amount of sediment it is still an incredibly deep purplish ruby. Good complex bouquet of blackberry, blackcurrant, star anise, and pepper. Ditto the palate with an herbal element on the finish. I suspect the next time I try it, the grade will go up. Right now, however, since it's still developing I'll give it an 89.
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5/20/2016 - Mika78 wrote: 92 Points
Ridge Lytton Springs 2010: Nose of dark & blue berries, hint of liquorice. Great mineral grip from cool year vintage. Baby still.
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3/10/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 89 Points
A Ridge Lytton Spring Vertical and a few others (our home): So this ended up being the last place wine on six out of eight votes. I think it is so tight and tannic right now that it doesn't show well. Chris, who brought this, opened before hand and poured off a glass for his wife. I think that had the effect of shutting this down tight by the time we got to it. It happens. Purple in color. Black raspberries and cedar on the nose. Also a bit of pencil lead. On the palate, sweet and jammy while also quite tannic. lacking much depth at this point. Also a clay quality that was odd. I would hold these for a while as it is not in the best place right now. I would think it gets better.
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3/3/2016 - winelegends.net Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dunkles Lila Rot
Schwarzkirschig,Brombeeren,sehr würzig,bisschen Kräuter,irgendwann auch leicht pflaumig.
Leicht gerbstoffgeprägt,balanciert,samtig,vollmundig,rund,gute Säure,gute Tiefe,bisschen Extraktsüsse..
Langer würzig,dunkelfruchtiger Abgang.
Gefällt mir auch wieder sehr gut.Ist sofort präsent.
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1/30/2016 - twoamps wrote: 89 Points
Meh. Vaguely disappointing. Thin and sharp. Threw some heavy sediment in the bottle. Uncharacteristic of a 5 year old Lytton Springs.
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1/28/2016 - j30 wrote:
Fresh and fairly complex nose of blackberry, blackcurrant, jam, tobacco, etc. Full bodied, very fruity, with high acidity and moderate tannins to be further integrated over time. Very enjoyable and easy to drink, without being simplistic.
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12/23/2015 - Cag4 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, dark ruby red. This is a lovely, complex wine. Upon opening, bright red fruits, tart cherry and chewy tannins. But 24 hours later in opened bottle with a stopper, it has mellowed into a rich fruit compote with a loong finish and mouth watering top notes of red/purple fruits... Plum. Enjoyed with a carne asade quesadilla supreme from Don Tommy's in OB/San Diego, which it handled with aplomb! Great now, with a serious decant... But it will go the distance, so be patient, if you can.
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11/21/2015 - Twinkles wrote: 90 Points
Big wine. Complex. Oak and apples. Really enjoyable.
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11/14/2015 - loegaute wrote: 88 Points
Nyrørte bjørnebær, blyantspiss, einebær, høy, harpiks, lysbrent kaffe og vanilje. Ganske bløt frukt i munnen, men høy friskhet og faste, overraskende tørrende tanninene. Syren er litt røff og stikkende. Sursøt. Ganske bra fokus. Veldig god konsentrasjon og lengde. Munnen følger opp nesen, men med mer vanilje og kaffe. Fast avslutning. 88p.
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10/24/2015 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted off the restaurant list for an half an hour or so and drank over the red meat and noodle back end of a gorgeous Chinese meal...... I wish the decant had been longer but the wine still showed all the elegance and good winemaking grace that epitomises Ridge. Wonderfully perfumed and expressive nose and a gorgeous satisfying body. This is the kind of wine you don't mind paying 3x for in a top restaurant compared to retail....... it still punches at that higher price point....in this case nothing else on the wine list would have come near even at twice the price (doncha love Zinfandel). A shame it wasn't the 2005 but it will get there. Give it another 3 years or so to really come into its full glory. I love Ridge Lytton Springs almost unconditionally....the California equivalent of Ch. Musar (e.g. off the well-trodden path but world class and totally with personality).
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10/11/2015 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 91 Points
Blend of 67% Zinfandel from 80 year old vines with 23% Petite Sirah, 7% of Carignan and 3% of Mourvedre.
Compelling nose featuring raspberry marmelade, rose hip, locust bean and tomato paste notes. Round and velvety on the palate with good persistence and breadth.
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9/19/2015 - td1836 Likes this wine: 92 Points
3 hour decant. Balanced, juicy, cherry, raspberry, blue fruits, spices, a little oak well integrated, vanilla. Nose wasn't as expressive as I would have liked, but the flavors were so good that I really enjoyed this one.
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8/7/2015 - gifstad Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Dark berries and chocolate. Still some structured tannins. Drinking well at the moment, but absolutely no rush.
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6/18/2015 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Showing a little more oak than expected with a distinct silk note. Black and blue fruit with a enthusiastic freshness and lift. Moderate finish, mild vanilla. Elegant and lovely.
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6/17/2015 - Jmanz2000 wrote: 92 Points
- Brick color. It's somewhat balanced with a medium/full body. Smooth texture - Maybe a little early but outstanding character after it opens up. Decanted for an hour.
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5/31/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perfect with grilled steaks, this showed the typical Ridge balance and freshness to go with the alluring spice on the nose and lush, berry fruits. This has relaxed a good bit since release, but there's plenty of good structure for this to go many miles more.
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5/31/2015 - Lush in Katy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bought four or five bottles of this a few years back. Drank one bottle right away squirreled the rest away. Tonight I opened the second. It is drinking great right now but I suspect it can stand a few more years in the cellar and really be off the charts. Don't get me wrong it is absolutely fine right now but has a brighter future.
Walked away for 20 min. or so, it is even better now. Note to self, give it some time.
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5/24/2015 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
37th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2010s (R&D's): Purple crimson color. Cherry, blue fruit and mineral notes with underlying spice and pepper qualities. Develops raspberry, floral and toasted wood notes. Flavors of dark fruit- ripe- hints of raisin and plum. Finishes with good length and hints of pepper.
My #3, Domino's #8
Group #8, 53 pts
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2/26/2015 - stubbie999 Likes this wine:
Surprisingly integrated already for a young LS. Pretty brairy-berry fruit, oak and tannin are all fairly well knit, with no one part sticking out; worth noting that it's really the acidity that keeps this one together. Restrained, even by Ridge standards. One might even call it elegant alongside a barbecued pork tenderloin.
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2/8/2015 - Billigan wrote: flawed
Corked! My first-ever corked bottle from Ridge.
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1/28/2015 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted off the restaurant list for an hour or so...... I wish it had been 3 hours but it was still showing all that elegance and good winemaking grace that epitomises Ridge. This is the kind of wine you don't mind paying 3x for in a top restaurant compared to retail....... it still punches at that higher price point. A shame it wasn't the 2005 but it will get there. Give it another 3 years or so to really come into its full glory. Disclaimer: I love Ridge Lytton Springs almost unconditionally....the California equivalent of Ch. Musar (e.g. off the well-trodden path but world class and totally with personality).
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11/13/2014 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
Similiar note, bold Zin blend. www.winelx.com
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10/23/2014 - ddsolomon2000 wrote: 88 Points
Thin and uninspiring. Dissappointing for a Ridge wine
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10/11/2014 - blaahhi wrote:
Juicy dark red fruit, ground black pepper and spice on the nose and on the palate. Good acidity and moderate tannins. Long, initially peppery finish tapering towards mid-tones in the end. Balanced and somewhat restrained for a Zin. Still young, will develop for years. I like this style.
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9/23/2014 - Bellissimo wrote:
PnP. Deep dark color. Nose shows a little oak influences over dark fruit. Taste follows nose with a little spice too. Tannins are integrating nicely and don't really get a sense of alcohol.
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9/18/2014 - wabi47 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Silty sediment makes this cloudy; nice mix of fruit melange and bramble; med body; plenty going on; rustic; fades a bit on day 2 but still balanced
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9/1/2014 - 1997cobalt Likes this wine: 91 Points
dark and aromatic. Well balanced and just a bit spicy. Decanted for 30 minutes and was fresh and ready to consumed...... enjoyed
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8/30/2014 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 90 Points
Great somewhat restrained zin that still offers a lot of ripe fruit, pleasant aromas of spice and plum, good freshness. Went well with some grilled sirloin steaks.
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8/19/2014 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Subtle yet sublime. A good piercing nose, needs plenty of time to open up, but yields mixtures of black and red ripe fruit, earth, spice. Great balance and lush juicy ripe fruit complexion.
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8/2/2014 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 92 Points
elegant old zin, harmonic, alcohol well integrated
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7/26/2014 - PSUSteve Likes this wine:
I knew this was too young especially without a decanter or good glassware but it was by far the best choice on the restaurant list. Very tight but black fruit, pepper, spice and bramble were all there. 90-91 now but I believe with time much better.
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7/23/2014 - pigdaddy wrote: 90 Points
decanted 30 min. dark purple - red; italian prune plums, blackberry & red raspberry conserve, bramble leaves, wild thyme; med++ weight, not too jammy; more restrained by far than '09, tight bramble fruits & blue plums, leaner than anticipated, w/bright, youthful acids, really jumps w/food & will probably have a lengthy drinking window.
pizza w/hot italian sausage, roasted sungold tomatoes, local mozz, shaved torpedo onions, oregano & basil; mixed summer squashes seared w/sweet corn & green chile, cherokee green tomato & mint pesto
11/26/14 an especially ingratiating bottle tonight; dead-on with supper & very balanced; none of the occasional pruney roasted quality riper vintages can show; petite sirah is noticeable in the blend now and seems like it might always have a presence.
roasted duck & spicy venison sausage 'stew" in guanciale broth w/roasted pumpkin & escarole, turnips & oyster mushrooms, crispy sweet potato spatzle, pecorino, evoo
3/11/15 most restrained Lytton at 4 years old tonight in my experience, been purchasing since '91; taut bramble fruit reluctant to show, even after a 45 min. decant; food helps do the trick but this strikes me as needing another year or two, & even then will be on the intense side of the spectrum (still 90+)
pizza with crispy mushrooms, pickled sweet onion & speck; roasted cauliflower w/shaved fennel, radicchio & orange harissa vinaigrette
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7/2/2014 - phillyboyP wrote: 91 Points
Great acidity and spice. Really in a nice spot alrady, but no hurry. 91
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6/16/2014 - plechazunga Likes this wine:
Opened up pretty easily. A mouthful of pure plum fruit with a slight peppery finish. Very elegant, but with enough substance to drink on its own. In a really nice place already, but there is no rush to drink.
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5/12/2014 - Chainthroer wrote: 91 Points
Brambly blackberry, blueberry, graphite, pepper, spice. Not as big or rich as the 2009, but a good enough Zinfandel. Paired nicely with barbeque pork ribs.
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3/23/2014 - Bisty Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ridge Zinfandel 1994-2010 (Brussels): Blue.
Gives a cool impression which I like. Crazy good acidity combined with top but balanced fruit. Good now! My WOTN!
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3/21/2014 - elledeca wrote:
Ridge Zinfandels vertical: way too young, like the geyserville it has bright fruit but lots of acidity and some hints of VA. keep 10 years.
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1/17/2014 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 90 Points
We had the 2010 Geyserville the other day and the comparison is interesting as we find that Lytton Springs usually is more attractive to us than the G-ville. But with this vintage it is the opposite. We love both and are thinking of making them our first ever yearly wine subscription.
LS is simply not yet integrated and consists of great components rather than the multiplication of its parts. M++ acids, M+ tannin, long, full bodied taste with Petit Sirah more restrained than in G-ville. Even if this is a rather bold wine, the firm acidity makes it a little brittle as it also pierces through the fruit in the late mid-palate.
However, this is a very beautiful wine, and it worked well with all dishes except the salty, strong tasting green cheese with caramel overtones and of Japanese make (and of course faceplanted with dessert).
Decanted at home for 3 hrs.
We will keep the remaining two btls for at least five more yrs.
Wife: 90p.
Enjoyed at fabulous Restaurant Tani (2nd visit this week!) in Gaienmae (Tokyo).
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1/3/2014 - Carsten Madsen Likes this wine: 93 Points
VERY Nice zin, Cool stile :)
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1/2/2014 - Henman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted more than one hour. Vibrant nose of fresh blueberries and blackberries. Medium to full bodied, delivering supple and juicy dark berries likewise the nose with firm and smooth tannins and a gentle kiss of oak. Delicious stuff. Drinking already nicely.
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1/2/2014 - ifishtoo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Way back in the early '80s I was attending a meeting in San Francisco. On a day off I rented a car and set off with a friend for an impromptu tour of the wine country. We chanced upon Lytton Springs Winery and on a whim drove in. The winery was a smallish metal building in the midst of these incredibly old gnarly looking vines/stumps. It was late May and the buds were breaking. A soft spoken man came out of the building and we introduced ourselves. His name was Walt (I think) and he was originally from Mississippi, retired from the military and the owner of the winery. He welcomed us inside and we proceeded to taste wine from several vintages and some from barrel prior to the final assemblage. It was an awesome experience and one that I will never forget. The vineyard is now owned by Ridge and the metal building has been replaced by a modern, eco-friendly structure devoted to making extraordinary Zinfandel-based wines. The 2010 version is no exception. At present the nose is a bit restrained with the promise of lush berries upon maturity. On the palate, the fruit is big and monolithic but again with the promise of blossoming into a wonderful Zin blend. The aftertaste lasts at least 30 seconds. As the back label indicates, 2010 was a challenging year for Lytton Springs, but the stuff in the bottle is a testament to the skills of Paul Draper, et al in a difficult year. Bravo! This wine will be great in a few years. I'm going to buy more this afternoon.
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12/29/2013 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good stuff. Dependable every year. Nice fruit, easy drinker. Drink now.
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12/28/2013 - mlwhitfi wrote: 91 Points
Needs time, has gone into hiding. Hold.
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12/25/2013 - BigTex22 wrote: 91 Points
Still young, bright fruit, and classic Zin profile. Recommend a decant, drink or hold up to a few more years. VERY GOOD.
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12/24/2013 - cobystilp wrote: 91 Points
Excellent and very young. Bright red raspberry and black currents hit you up front. Vigorously decanted. If you want to drink this now it needs a few hours of decanting. This wine was good but will be great with about 5 years of age on it.
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12/14/2013 - wineotim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very easy drinking style, low tannins, balanced, and seemingly low sulfites. Fine Zin, can't go wrong with Ridge.
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11/24/2013 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
No decant.
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10/30/2013 - PT insurgent wrote:
WSET Level 2; 10/30/2013-11/1/2013 (WSET School, London): Jammy ripe nose, strawberry, raspberry, plums. Some herbaceous notes about it.
High acid and tannin with ripe fruits.
Long finish.
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10/22/2013 - Christeenie69 wrote: 90 Points
Perfect with pasta and red sauce, meatballs, pizza, Italian sausages, etc...
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10/1/2013 - alohashirt Likes this wine: 90 Points
big round berry fruit, good tannins, nice on its own but i wish i had a steak to go with. I'd like to compare this with an eight or ten year old lytton springs. I found it shorter than the 2011 Geyserville.
I think this might be more of a food wine than the Geyserville I'd preferred
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9/28/2013 - sjr Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a half bottle. This is just phenomenal, balanced Zinfandel. I gave it a hard decant and stuck my nose in the decanter and breathed deep. Tons of explosive zinberry notes, with a bit of vanilla and spice. Really bright though. I think if I could have only smelled it all evening, it would have been enough.
Yet the parade of awesome continues on the palate. It's really a lot of zinberry and blueberry, similar to the nose, but without most of the rough spice. There's some tannic structure, perhaps a bit less than usual with the Lytton bottlings. It's mainly just exceptionally friendly right now. There's enough acidity too that it's really bright and not one of these fat, heavy zins that just sits there. There's enough of all this in here to keep it going for several years in the half bottle format. I would imagine longer for a full bottle.
The finish is unremarkable, but not much of a detractor from how great this is overall. Another "new world-old world" masterpiece from the wine drinker's friends at Ridge.
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9/22/2013 - xena Likes this wine: 92 Points
Geyserville and Lytton Springs are among the best Zinfandel blends around.
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9/13/2013 - hoservin wrote: 90 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of cherry, blackberry, sandalwood, plum, vanilla and pepper. Rich, velvety plum and blackberries with well balanced tannins on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Medium to full bodied. Paired with four cheese pasta.
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9/8/2013 - BarnyardFunk Likes this wine: 93 Points
4 hour decant
New World gone Old World done right
berry briar patch potpourri, cranberry/black pepper, salty component like opening a processed ham lunch meat package
cran-grape stem, dark dark fruit, rich black cherry, dirty greenery, awesome structure with a pretty long finish, sweet herbaceous like a new stick of juicy fruit gum
black cherry, blueberry, cranberry/bosenberry tannins for the finish
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9/5/2013 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Nice zin ! Very tasty with BBQ Spaghetti.
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8/30/2013 - WMWG Likes this wine:
Decanted 2hrs. Eggplant purple with a redish tint when held to the light. The zinfandel really comes through on the nose showing some restrained jam and floral notes. The palate is fairly straightforward, jam, red fruit and dust, and on night two an inky characteristic (think ballpoint pen) came out which was very nice. Tannins are still very strong and the flavors need some time to come together as well. This will drink very nice with some age on it (5+ more years).
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8/9/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
one of the best Lytton Springs I've had. Still very young and I would expect great things from this wine in 3-4 years.
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7/30/2013 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nose of bold cherries and spice, dark black garnet in color. A full bodied Zin blend, with black cherry, blackberry, plum, some herbs, layered long spiced finish. A very good and interesting blend. www.winelx.com
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7/16/2013 - ingar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Av og til er det godt med kraftige saker.
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7/5/2013 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank over 2 days. Still good on day 2. Nice dark fruit nose & tastes. Excellent blending.
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7/5/2013 - sirwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
More Bordeaux in style than California, although it had the weight and alcohol of a California wine. Blueberry, black cherry fruit is not overwhelmed by oak, which I happen to like in this wine. A little sour aftertaste that either went away with time or I got used to it.
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6/19/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Much too young, but I was looking for a baseline. Nose of blueberry, herbs and some cherry. Similar palate with plenty of tannin. I will hold two plus years on this.
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6/19/2013 - mlwhitfi Likes this wine: 91 Points
A big inky zin in a balanced claret style. Dark ripe cherries, cedar, and spice on the nose. Firm but approachable tannins, earth, leather and spice on the palate. Still very young but will develop beautifully with age. Hold.
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6/7/2013 - CaliRice wrote: 93 Points
I cant get enough of this wine.
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5/31/2013 - Wrkolbeck wrote: 91 Points
Big berry fruit, some tannin but well balanced. Drinking very nice now even though young
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5/27/2013 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big and beautiful, still very elegant. Old world meets new world, in a way that is very appealing, great wine, will buy again!
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5/2/2013 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent wine. Very balanced and tasty. Round tannins.
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4/30/2013 - Fred44 wrote: 93 Points
Black cherry. Blackberry. Dark and dry.
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4/14/2013 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Really nice restrained zin at this point, but it sure tastes young. Great balance and flavors, but this should get even better in a few years.
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4/11/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking on the young side. This wine is packed with fruit and potential. Still tight. Likely better in 2-3 years.
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4/5/2013 - avp wrote:
Crushed forest fruit nose with energetic berry aromas - sweet but bright. Some fattiness, mushrooms, olives and some sweet vanillary oak.
Fullbodied and refreshingly crispy palate with meaty weight of sweet berry fun and some grip as well. Olives, charcoal and slight mocha to vanilla oak pushing through in the long finish.
Lovely clean and bright fruit backed by fine acidity and more savoury depths. Will be better in years to come, but rather yummy as it is.
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3/30/2013 - Fred44 wrote: 94 Points
Incense, spice nose. Powerful, smooth and complex with a long finish. Just a damn beautiful wine!
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3/26/2013 - JayPKay wrote: 91 Points
Young, buttery, fleshy and potent, this wine lasted well into the evening and didn't let up on its restraint. Nevertheless this is drinking nicely and I anticipate that it will only get better. One of the more full-bodied Zins I've had in a while, which is nice.
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3/23/2013 - Jhcwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
I preferred the 2009. But this was still decent. And it lasted 4 days with vacuvin!
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3/19/2013 - Pufferfish22 wrote:
Sweet nose - a light wine with no elements of petite syrah. Very tannic and despite adding syrah, the finish is relatively short. Body is lacking a little bit but overall a balanced wine. May need to be laid down longer.
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3/8/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 89 Points
Splash decant and shake. Smokey vanila and berries on the nose. Balanced and lush. Blackberry, cherry and spice flavors. Still a bit oaky right now. Needs a year or five to tame the oak. Be a good wine to cellar for a while. Hard to deny there is great fruit here. Paid $30 which is about right for the wine.
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3/2/2013 - johjoh wrote:
Easy to drink. Good
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2/16/2013 - topher2411 wrote: 93 Points
Classic zinfandel aromas, with some notable petit sirah darkness. This is giving both on the nose and on the palate, with tannic grip and a lasting finish that suggests the best years are ahead.
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2/2/2013 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Much lighter-bodied than recent vintages, spicy, but hot, with alcohol on the nose and finish. Perhaps that will integrate with time, but is not well-balanced now. A shame, because under the heat, it is an elegant, classic Ridge.
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2/2/2013 - Rowchan Likes this wine: 86 Points
Clear, lovely cassis colour with pink rim, fat and long legs.
Clean, full intensity, with aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla, faint raspberries and red licorice.
Dry, med - body, med alcohol, med - tannins, med - acidity, reasonable complexity with further tastes of pomegranate, candy floss, and strawberry jam. A lighter Ridge wine, with a med finish. Would highly recommend to those who would love to drink a full, fruity red wine without the tannins.
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2/1/2013 - Mrp2008 wrote: 91 Points
Lots of fruit up front. The zin quality showed stronger over the next 3 hours. Tannins were almost non-existent at first, but changed after 30 minutes to an hour. Nice zin
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2/1/2013 - cartime Likes this wine: 90 Points
After my 4th vintage of this wine, I've decided I'm drinking these entirely too early. Deep, rich, black and red fruit palate, with earthy cocoa. Nice acidity and a very subdued herbal aspect that I think will develop with more time in the bottle.
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1/27/2013 - Griffin5416 wrote: 89 Points
Not as good as the 09.
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1/27/2013 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Vinho delicious. Ripe fruits. Round tannins.
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1/18/2013 - adias Likes this wine: 92 Points
big dark fruit, wonderful nose, nice long finish. seemed to get a bit more tannic on the finish after an hour. need to get more of this!
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1/17/2013 - defnefferson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark berries, tar, iron, oak and earth flavors fill this deep, pungent wine. Tannic finish becomes more prevalent as its open. Great stuff.
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1/13/2013 - CaliRice wrote: 93 Points
tight, concentrated, deep, long finish. an incredible bottle. much more approachable than the 2010 geyserville.
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12/30/2012 - wabi47 wrote: 92 Points
big brooding dense mixed dark fruit, some black raspberry, big structure, still primary and a bit brawny but more stuffing than any zin that i have tasted this year. Decant or hold
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12/26/2012 - Biggsy wrote: 92 Points
Big, powerful nose. Full of plump fruits, almost jammy with spices and charcoal. Huge depth if flavour on the palate, but well balanced and quite light on its feet. The tannins are youthful, but fine and very ripe. Layers of rich lush black fruits, woody herbs, a tarry earthy note and a long sweet finish. Excellent.
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12/20/2012 - PaulHig wrote: 90 Points
Dark plum, dark cherry and a touch of raisin on the nose. Juicy fruit in the palate, a touch tight, but elegant. Powdery tannins. Drinking well, but probably best from end 2013.
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12/16/2012 - nectar14 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple. Very ripe fruit on the nose; purple and black fruits. Wonderful clarity of fruit, with density and tannic structure to spare. Flexes copious tannins on the medium finish, no doubt from the 1/3rd Petit Syrah. Ought to have long life, but is still probably best within its first 5-7 years (IMHO); 90-91.
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12/16/2012 - edub7 wrote: 90 Points
One of my favorite California producers. 2010 was a difficult vintage, looks like Ridge was very selective for Lytton. Kind of spoiled with back to back great Ridge Zin vintages, so 2010 is a more of the old school austere offering that reminds me of their wines released in the 90s. It' s a bit tannic and structured, the fruit is there, but this will be for the cellar, at least short term cellaring. Needs 2+ hours of decanting, still has some bite.
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12/11/2012 - Vervelb wrote: 89 Points
Drank over 2 days, raisin, cherry, licorice and definite jamminess in the nose. Lost its fruit and was hotter day 2 but still very nice. Just a hair better than the east bench 100% zin we had side by side.
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12/4/2012 - Hamilton1 wrote: 88 Points
If you like full-throttled Zin blends like the Prisoner, as I do, then you probably will be disappointed by this wine. It's a fairly restrained offering, and it doesn't have the complexity or power to justify the $35 I paid for it.
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11/30/2012 - drdecanto wrote: 91 Points
I like this, but agree with the previous reviewer who characterized this as restrained and also with the cost for the pleasure received. There are a number of zins in the under $20 and the $20-$30 price range that delivered as much or more. I've been a big Ridge fan for years, but haven't purchased for awhile and given the prices, I'll probably turn my attention elsewhere looking for for more pleasure and a lower cost.
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11/29/2012 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours.
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11/24/2012 - prankster wrote: 91 Points
Deep fruit. Cherry and not much slickness
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11/11/2012 - Win-E Likes this wine: 93 Points
Color: pretty purple color.
On the Nose: Graphite, silvery spice, smoky, iron, not fruity, coastland, foresty.
On the Palate: minerality, tannins, plum, black cherry, foresty.
When we drink it... it brings back memories of the pacific coastlands and mountainous regions.
Very nice!
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10/26/2012 - 6831 wrote: 91 Points
Fresh, flashy nose with deep aromas of freshly cut fruit, citrus rind, matchstick.
Midpalate still a bit primary with dark berry notes, cranberry, chalk, sweet oak.
This bottle really stood out for it's long, lively and complex finish.
Surpisingly open for a young LS. 91+
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10/12/2012 - Lee Fining wrote: 92 Points
Meaty, spicy nose. Excellent balance of fruit, oak, acids and tannins.
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9/4/2012 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 91 Points
Plenty of raspberry and blackberry fruit backed up by spices, pepper, graphite, underbrush, beef tartare, and chocolate-licorice twist. This is balanced with a solid structure and a long finish. I think this wine is built to last a decade with some room for improvement as fleshes out. Composed of 67% zinfandel, 23% petite sirah, 7% carignane, 3% mataro(mourvedre). (Best 2013-2020)
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9/1/2012 - kosinski wrote:
Lush nose of rich black berry fruit with spice notes. Jammy berry flavors carry through to the palate, which finishes with a touch of spice and tannin. Enjoyable now; will be interesting to see how it develops.
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9/1/2012 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 92 Points
50th Harvest Anniversary Celebration at Ridge (Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello): Carmine color with fresh dark fruit, kirsch, brown sugar, and herbal aromas. On the palate it's medium-bodied, fresh, round and with a nervy acidity, and black cherry and spice flavors. Long finish. Approachable now but will get better with time. 67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 3% Mataro.
www.enofylzwineblog.com
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8/19/2012 - stiang wrote: 88 Points
Av og til trenger det ikke være elegant. Dog elegant for en Zin, etter min erfaring. "det lukter litt Rhone, men det er det ikke. Dette er gryterettvin", sa min kjære fru umiddelbart. 23% petite sirah (sic), bjørnebær, krekling og en viss patos i frukten. Pen fylde gjennom hele kurven, ikke merkbar 14%. ikke mye lengde. Godt til chili con carne
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10/31/2011 - ey1294 wrote: 88 Points
- Crimsom color with fast forming legs and aromas of cedar and black pepper. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of black currant, tobacco and smokey with a medium/full body. Leathery texture with a short finish - All pencil shavings on the nose. the wine needs to sit, alcohol blow off is present. needs cellar time, at least another 3-5 years. Good promise though.
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