Medium depth purple red, clearing rim. Bouquet of bilberries, damsons and strawberries. Soft, generous palate black cherry jam, damsons and bilberries, ripe tannins and lovely acidity making a perfectly balanced, rich, fruity red with a long dry finish.
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From magnum. Dark red, without any transition. Earthy on the palate with sweet notes of tobacco, cherry, spices/pepper. Has a sweet taste on the palate. Cough syrup, heater, and some steel.
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Deep crimson robe with clear rim. Bouquet is deep and rich with black cherry, damson and aniseed. Palate is packed with black fruit, liquorice and saddle leather, soft tannins and well balanced acidity. Holding up well after 30 years.
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Very hazy notes. This was drinking well now, but could last a while too. Nicely integrated, with fruit a mix of red and black fruit, slight tannins, elegant and intense at the same time. No overt oak notes at all (A-).
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Bought this (half case) in 2005. WA review said to drink by 2011. Still have a couple of bottles. Ridge has a reputation regarding the ageability of their wines. This is no exception. I would never guess 2002. Could be a 2015. I will say that it was stored properly. Great color, fruit, balance and density. Much better than last tasted in 2005. Ridge has always made exceptional wines... I need to buy more.
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W ribroast. Bob Thomas visiting. This was a superb bottle. Just great fruit,color, structure and length. Very interesting redberry flavors that went well with the dish. Very good zin example and reinforced my thoughts about LS with age on it. Of course the cork broke when opening. Had it next to the 2005 Geyserville. This is better!
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A somewhat disappointing showing. Lovely nose that is archetypal Ridge zinfandel- spicy, sweet, dark, brambly. The palate is good, showing porty on first pour, but the juiciness comes out with air. It lacks some palate impact despite all the stuffing and it shows disjointed. I like each glass better when first poured. Still, quite quaffable and fun, I was just expecting more. Based on this, no reason to hold these longer.
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Dinner @ Jenny / Rudy. Flanksteak. Had this next to the 2000. This was clearly the better wine in fruit, complexity, body, finish. Very good combo with the marinated steak and the cold winter evening. Still very fresh with great elegant nose. The cork came out broken (dry) as with many of my 10+ year Ridges. Very good wine!!! And great to taste next to something
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This wine expresses a deep cranberry color suggesting something different about it from its darker tablemates. This wine is lighter than Wine 1, both in color and in heft. Loads of coffee and mocha on the finish. Some tasters detected molasses or sassafras on the nose. Some heavy sediment at the neck. 14.4% alc. Recommended. All wines tasted with homemade dry rubbed smoked pork shoulder BBQ). 05.28.16 with good friends to celebrate Memorial Day holiday.
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Brick red rather than purple after its maturation. Wonderful hedgerow flavours of the wildest of blackberries with a undernote of prunes and treacle . Not exceptionally long but very fine
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A Ridge Lytton Spring Vertical and a few others (our home): Dark purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is chalky with dust and black raspberries. juicy acidity. Lots of red fruit. Deep but leaner on the palate. Nice complexity. Drinking youthfully.
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We drank the 2002 and the 2003 side by side. Both fantastic. The 2002 was beautiful, the fruit was pronounced, blackberry, currants, tremendous balance, great acidity. This wine was very much alive after 14 years, must have been the petite syrah in the blend I suppose. Likely would have held up for 3-5 more years but was tremendous last night.
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First time drinking Ridge with age. Very pleasant. After first opening, I thought it may well be close to done, but it kept getting better as the night went on. Still drinking well on night two, though diminished slightly.
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Medium depth of colour - purplish robe and clear meniscus. Bouquet is rich and powerful and packed with ripe black fruit and aromas of violets. On the palate - a rich, mature and deep mix of oak, damson, mulberry and bilberry flavours backed by gentle tannins, ripe acidity, all in perfect balance. One of the best!
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This wine is getting long in the tooth, but still enjoyable. The fruit is very smooth and still rich, but the wine is now a lot more monochromatic than before.
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A blend of 75% Zin, 20% Petit Sirah, 5% Carignane. Even with 13 years of development on it, this wine showed the youth and power of brown sugar, plum and Zin funk when first opened. Reading the back label, apparently the power of the wine was a concern at its inception with Mr. Draper remarking that Ridge both destemmed the Zin and opted not to employ punch downs due to the tannic power of the old vine Zin and that they used egg whites to help soften the wine before finishing it. This is not nearly as complex or nuanced as the East Bench. The finish is hard and dominated by molasses. Typically, I find molasses and brown sugar notes only in younger Zins, not ones as old as this LS. Nevertheless, its power is a good match for the smokey goodness of the (pork) ribs. Loads of sediment chips out with the final pour. The bottle retained a shadow of sediment about the shoulder from opening to end. 14.4% alc. Recommended.
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w pheasant! Very good combo. PnP beautiful fresh color, and good solid nose. On Palate justwell integrated fruit and spice and tannins. Lots of character. Good finish! Love the LS always.
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w pasta on night before thanksgiving. Major snow storm wet icy snow. Truck slid of the road but 2 good samaritans got me home. Yummy wine. Notes pretty consistent. Drink now is excellent advise. Yummy solid zin that tastes very young but is not wild but round. Yummy. Good winter wine
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Good colour, concentrated prune juice, not much age. Deep, generous bouquet with sweet kirsch fruit straight from the Black Forest, blue plum, vanilla, oak. Full bodied, creamy, a whack of black cherries against a backdrop of dates, vanilla, and Asian spice. Well executed finish with fresh acidity and good length, there's just a hint of heat from the alcohol. Drink now
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Popped and poured without decant. Good fruit, balanced and fine tannins - drinking very well right now but it's ready so drink up! Always liked this wine, good value and I'm looking forward to trying other more current vintages in the next few years.
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Tannins resolved and I tend to find that when these wines lose their tannins that they can be on the sweet/stewed side without the foil of some structure. But this is relatively "in-check" for a full-bodied Zinfandel with good complexity and depth.
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Liked this much more than the last bottle. Low ABV of 13.8% for Zin. Nicely balanced, Nose of spices, anise, red and black fruits and some earthy notes. Flavor very pleasant reflecting the nose with soft mouthfeel. Notes from memory a day later.
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No surprise that this is a 2002 vintage wine...juicy ripe fruit berries and plum but not prune...ready to go but should hold on for quite some time...paired well with roast pork loin
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Copious amounts of brambly fruit aromas leave no doubt about what this wine is, or where it came from. Remnants of oak remain in what once must have been rather woody, but they have integrated pretty well. More ripe, spicy, brambly fruit in the mouth. Ripeness level is right at the upper limit for me, though not over the line. There's a bit of heat from the alcohol but I don't find it excessive. I don't know that I am able to appreciate many secondary or tertiary characteristics of aged Zinfandel so I don't see why I would want to age this any further.
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W roast chicken. Great dark color, elegant nose of fruit an spice. The palate was terrific. No overpowering zin or petit syrah. Very good fruit, smoke spice and other flavors. Great length and wonderful finish. This is very good and has a lot more life left. This will get even moet interesting in next few yrs. 5??? Yummy!!
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W hamburger on sunday nite. Great color showing some age. Good spicey fruity nose. On palate a lot of sweetness, fruit and spice. Good finish. Great wine. Drink now!! I thought the LS would live a bit longer but this is right on.
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Opened to accompany the 49ers return to the Super Bowl. Rich, plummy fruit was balanced by minty and cedary elements. Very nice acidity made for a great food wine, and it was a treat with the broiled rack of lamb.
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Found this at the bottom of a bin that I haven't touched for years. Not expecting much, but what a pleasant surprise. Deeply colored with some gentle amber edges. Wonderfully complex and balanced, with some lovely orange-peel and compote elements. Age has been kind to this wine, and a welcome change from full throttle Cali Zins. I wish I had more...just delicious with our richly spiced pork roast.
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This is my first taste of this particular Lytton Springs effort and a very decent effort it is. A blend of 75% Zin, 20% Petite Sirah and 5% Carignane. Loads of plum, coffee and rhubarb with a mocha finish. It goes down easy and fast; so fast in fact that I didn’t bother to jot down notes. Most of the comments were either how well it paired with the slow smoked porcine goodness from the BBQ Exchange and how smooth and silky the wine is. The mouthfeel has heft and a glycerol-like feel. Only a shadow of sediment appearing at this point. 14.4% alc. With pork BBQ. It’s as if this Q was made for this wine; outstanding! Highly Recommended.
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Much better than prior bottles-- nose of plums, hint of menthol, palate of plums, red fruits, more balanced than I recall, no heat evident despite 14+%, long raspberry finish. Delicious.
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Medium dark ruby color. Nose of spicy red fruit. Moderately fruit forward and mildly tannic. Aftertaste is of chocolate covered raspberries with a hint of tea.
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Very nice, fully mature zin. Rich blackberry and cranberry fruit, sweet tannins (almost port-like), some oak and underbrush, and a medium finish. Will keep for awhile longer, but probably won't get better. Very enjoyable.
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This is extraordinary. Strong eucalyptus, root beer and medicinal aromas, but also some vividly crisp, natural fruit: not quite ripe blackberries, raspberries, black- and redcurrants. Fils the mouth and demands contemplation. Complex, well balanced, with perceptible but totally in-place acidity. Long finish - prdominantly sweet but with savoury and (attractively) bitter notes too. Really enjoyable.
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Starting off with a whiff of soy sauce and butterscotchy oak, this wine firmed up with air and paradoxically became younger the longer it was open. Vibrant red berry fruit with solid structure, this was another classic Lytton Springs with plenty of life left in it, even coming from our passively cooled cellar.
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A powerful nose, powerfully expressive of white truffles, then giving way to ripe blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, with a hint of balsamic suggesting this may be on the way downhill. Still a nice enough mouthful, with enough acidity to balance the ripe fruit.
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Consumed over two nights-- better on second night-- similar to my TN last year. Big zin berry flavors, crushed raspberry, blackberry, slightly liqueur/unctuous quality-- just big, bold fruit day 1 + heat;l day two, still alot of fruit and almost in balance.
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Typical Zin nose of bramble with some cranberry and wet paint. Dark berry fruit on the palate with some licorice and vanilla. Not as much acidity as i would expect from this wine. Finish is moderate with soft tannins. Some pepper and spice at the end with a touch of alcohol showing. Very good overall but, for me, not as good as some other vintages of the wine.
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Nose - shy mentholated black currant, deep and sharp, hints of dusty jujube. Pert peppery black currant, blackberry, dried cranberry, touch of sweetness, dusty tannin, violets. Pert, round, slightly bitter finish. Drink '15-'25 92+ pts
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Consumed over two nights-- better on second night. Nose of crushed raspberry, blackberry, sandalwood; palate of same + big zin berry flavor, good underlying spice and slightly liqueur/unctuous quality. Fantastic exuberant version of zin (day 2)-- too much fruit on day 1. Decant if drinking now. May improve with 2+ years?
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Classic Lytton Springs, slightly stemmy, but full fruit, generous mouth feel and long finish. A robust zin without alcohol heat and loads of jammy fruit.
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Good all round zinfandel with 20% "petite syrah" and a little 5% Carignane, not too high in alcohol at 14%. nothing special in nose or mouth though. Has lost a little body compared to one tasted 18 months ago.
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A little disappointing. The alcohol (though a modest 14.5%) really shows on the nose even after an hour or more of decanting. Definitely zin on the palate - ripe berry and red fruit with a hint of bramble on the finish. Still showing some tannins but I wouldn't age this much longer.
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Rich zin-berries, crushed raspberry and blackberry flavors, big but not ungainly, sweet fruit with structure. There a little exotic note of sandalwood and vanilla on top, nice wine. B++
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I can't fault this wine for me moving away from liking zinfandel. Raspberries, almost like winegums on the nose and lots of fruitiness on the palate with hints of vanilla and blackberries, perhaps even some cranberry touch to it. Very nice packaging, and I suppose an attractive wine, but it falls a bit short of not having a certain robustness and structure.
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This wine has reached a good, perhaps peak, point in its evolution. I would consider drinking during the next 6 months. Nose is very zin-like, crushed raspberry, a little phenolic paint thinner. Chocolately, blueberry fruit, with moderate acidity and tannin and a back note of Thai basil and underbrush. Very good, but not outstanding and unlikely to hang in there more than 18-24 months unless you like really old zin.
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Just lovely, perhaps at the prime of it's life, classic Ridge, fabulous fruit, an almost perfect blend of power and elegance - Dark, well concentrated with notes of plum, crancherry, black fruit, spice, pepper and vanilla on the nose, awesome structure and balance, complex, very interesting, smooth on the finish with terrific length, outstanding (93 Points).
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For some reason, much more oak on the palate than I recall - possible bottle variation or even fault. It masked the otherwise deep plum and blackberry. Even after a day it was still noticeably oaky.
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Wine 5 of Ridge Zinfandel Tasting: Mentholated blackberries on the nose. Some nice Dry Creek bramble. A underlying vein of wet leather. Palate loaded with big blackberry. Immensely fresh fruit. Very linear and focused. Nice tannic structure. Tastes like a youngster. Great wine that showed no difference in color or freshness from the 2006.
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Magnum, decanted for 1 hour. Deep purple/black color. Ripe, fresh nose of black fruit. Big, ripe black fruit, somewhat out of balance, semi sweet finish. Some thought that its was too young, but it had not integrated and balanced out.
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Decanted, let sit about an hour. Even still, it was opening up more in the glass. At first it was a bit too tannic, and then came across very well balanced. Seems ready to drink, but it seems fine to let it go another year.
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There are certainly enough notes on this wine already so I will just add that this was an enormous crowd pleaser at a large party. Very fruit-forward (still) and appealing. I often recommend this when asked for a delicious wine that won't break the bank.
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Wine seemed muted in all aspects. Color was light for a zin, more grenache than petit syrah (I know, LS is only 75% or so zinfandel in the field blend). Nose is pretty classic Ridge, cassis, underbrush, hint of high ketone (paint thinner). The wine had some cherry and raspberry fruit, a pretty obvious level of acidity, some tobacco and tar tendencies. Just okay. While I applaud this wine's restraint versus so many fruit bombs today, I am not convinced that was the goal, stylisitically. It seems more like the wine has peaked and is falling precipitously. I would make this a one year drinking window, I do not think it will hit the ten years or so Paul Draper predicts.
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This was perfect. Matched perfectly with the BBQ ribs and hamburgers at the Kanter's Night at the Museum Party. A perfect match. This has been the summer of Zinfandel, and tonight is no exception.
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Deep cherry red color. Spicy & smoky nose. Very smooth, quite juicy fruit followed by very long sweet oak finish. Needs to pair with milder food as it is not a fruit bomb by any stretch.
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Decanted and aired for one hour before tasting. Nose of dark cherry, black pepper and a smoky/charred flavor. Taste is similar with earthy flavors and licorice. Feels very earthy and traditional. Good balance and finish, fully mature. I had this with a grilled steak enhanced with a rub. Nose of dark cherry, black pepper and smoke/charred flavor. On the deck with our granddaaughter. This is my last bottle of 02, but I still have 04.
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Beautiful deep red color. Sumptuous nose, showing intense aromas of blackberry and sweet toasted oak. On the palate : a very juicy and rather feminine wine, medium bodied, with an elegant structure and completely integrated tannins. Respectable aftertaste. No need to wait, this is drinking very well now.
Mooie dieprode kleur. Weelderige neus, met intense aroma’s van zwarte bessen en een duidelijke maar zachte houttoets. Smaak : een delicate, eerder vrouwelijke wijn, elegant van structuur en met volledig versmolten tannines. Behoorlijke afdronk. Deze wijn is nu perfect drinkbaar ; niet al te lang meer wachten..
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Blood red colour with hints of purple-black. Cherry, blackberries and dark berry jam on the nose. Wonderful length in the taste spreading lingonberries, juicy plums and lots of strength. The wine developed enormously during the tasting and the following meal, carrying the charcoal grilled veal with vigour. Exceptional.
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WS gave this 83 points. Parker gave it 93. I worried that it was a bit dried out initially but with a couple hours of air it was what I hoped for from Lytton Springs. I've come to prefer Geyserville over time, but this is still one of the great under $50 wines made in the U.S.
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Decanted 30 mins. I enjoyed this wine. While it is ready to drink the components are there to let this age another 2-3 years if not more. Smooth, balanced, medium bodied,with a long finish. I like the secondary flavors that this bottle had developed. There is still some brambly zin character but this is no young alcoholic zin.
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Not sure if I just dont like zin as much any more but this is a better than average zin. Likely a high scoring zin if you are a big fan of the varietal.
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Muddy, blood red; right off the bat a huge creamy blackberry nose with some hints of bacon and smoke (which could be from dinner); supple, juicy and balanced on the palate with just a little dust; smooth finish with just a touch of heat showing at the back of the throat; prototype zin from the best in the biz
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Paumanok and Dinner with Mikhail: Deep ruby color. Bright nose of raspberry liquor, strawberries, and almond oil, with some definite earthiness coming out as it got more air. Good balance on the palate, fine tannins could last this one another five plus years for sure.
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this is a baby, a given, but right out of the gate this showed impressive ripe red fruit, lots of structure - both acid and tannins, ripe zin-like middle with pepper and raspberry, juicy not jammy fruit, touch of typical zin bitterness on the finish, long finish at that, needs years but seems like a wine that one would be happy to drink for years to come. excellent....(arg that means another producer i need to add to "must buy list"...)
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Ridge has a great showing tonight as this is also lovely. Deep ruby with cool dirt and earth mixed in with the wild berries. Believe it or not, this wine is balanced and gives a lot of pleasure. (91)
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Deep ruby color. Nose of brambly fruits -- blackberry, black raspberry syrup -- spice and smoke with a little heat. On the palate it is very full and bright with residual tannin.
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A very elegant wine - very balanced with a nose of eucalyptus, which I found interesting for a Zin but it blended very well with the oak. Mid-palate was filled with very subdued brambly fruits, with a somewhat short finish. I'm wondering about the longevity of this wine as the tannins were almost completely integrated. Wonderful bottle!
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very tasty brambly berry and currant fruit; excellent balance; medium to full bodied, and not over the top, but with plenty of staying power; just right;
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Really lovely and well made. Drinking perfect now and I dont think it will improve further. Dark colour, dark mature berries and spice in the nose. Kind of ' thick', warm, lush spicy taste.
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Great bottle on zin with nice brambly fruits, spice and structure. The wine was drinking great now, but will hold for many years but why wait? The finish lasted for 30 seconds.
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While some think these wines can age, I tend to prefer them in their youth. To me, this wine has peaked and is on the way down. Some of the bright, spicy fruit has started to recede.
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Ridge wines are always consistent. Was looking for a good Zin to go with grilled Jamaican Jerk pork chops. The wine has just enough "sweetness" to pair well with the food. It had a wonderful bouquet of fresh fruit. We opened a $15 Zin after this one and the difference was dramatic.
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Incredibly fruity. The nose is full of blackberries and plum. It felt a bit hot as a result of the high alcohol content. It appears a bit disjointed and a little unbalanced. However, it's pleasant and with a nice finish. Drink 2006-2009.
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I have to line up behind the other happy CT reviewers. Abundant blackberry fruit, yet a very elegant rather than muscular wine, with a solid backbone. Wonderful food wine that we paired successfully with a deer roast (note to Scandinavians: rådjursstek). Reluctantly, I'll try to keep a bottle for a few years, though every time I cook I'll start wondering why.
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This zin is really as good as others have noted. All four of us that consumed the bottle loved it. It seems that this zin is at it's peak right now and is wonderfully balanced between the fruit and tannins. Ridge has the knack of making a well balanced zin that ages very well.
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Opened this tonight alongside Rick Bayless' rustic Tortilla Soup and it stood up nicely. Big nose of red and black fruits followed by a lush sweetness on the palate marked by notes of cherry, cocoa and some cinnamon. Clean finish with some pretty bold tannins still lingering. No doubt this has years ahead of it, but it's a damn fine Zin right now. This one goes down way too easy...
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Color almost purple, superb nose of fresh lush fruits, the wine has a nice powerful concentration with an almost 'Rhonish' kind of touch of pepper. I think it has a broad appeal reaching many consumers. Definately a food wine for me./steen
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An Evening of Lytton Springs (Chez Ross, Vernon, CT): Slightly reduced, carmelized on the nose, with some flinty notes as well. Great notes of blueberry and vanilla. Solid, rich mouthfeel, with briary black fruit flavors. Finishes long, and drinking well right now. Group placement: 4/6.
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TWC does Californian Zinfandels (Rex and Judy's): Another great showing. Sweet, ripe fruits on the nose, with blueberry and licorice notes. Big fruits in the mouth, this wine is already evolving well, with tons of red and black fruits. Just beautiful, elegant but fruity.
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Whipped up a quick dinner of fresh pasta, red sauce and chicken. An Italian would have been best but I could not resist opening one of the bargain priced (store error?) Ridge 2002 Lytton Springs (75% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 5% Carignane) bottles purchased last week. Pouring the wine into the glass was a delight as the aroma hit me almost immediately and the purple hued wine splashed enticingly around the glass. The first real whiff was classic ‘Draper perfume’ – rich blackberry, loamy earth, and spice. This light/medium-bodied, elegant wine dances over the palate with a brisk acidity that cut through the red sauce perfectly. The rich spiciness dictated the palate profile with brambly (hedgerow) fruits, blackberries, red cherry, and a hint of raspberry on the finish. The wine was beautifully balanced and a fine structure that bodes well for aging for 12-15 years at least. Before I knew it an hour had elapsed and half a bottle was gone. Seconday aromas (tobacco) had begun to emerge and I look forward to revisiting tonight. Magic, pure magic. Raise a glass to Mr. Paul Draper. Well done sir, well done.
Night 2 update: immediate nose of blueberry and then prunes, figs and tobacco as the wine warms from the fridge. Evolving slowly but surely - good tannic structure, no sign of breakdown. Flavors of licorice, raspberry, as well as the ever-present blackberries, and just a hint of vanilla. I look forward to this wine in a further decade when the primary fruit has devolved into something altogether more like an aged claret. Quite beguiling.
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Something wasn't quite right with this bottle. Not corked or flawed, just not a typical Lytton Zin. Far too soft and very little fruit. Even after being open for two hours, there was little going on. These Ridge zins are usually full throttle from the get-go. I dunno? Almost like it was closed for business or going through a dumb phase.. Will wait a few months to try my other two bottles...
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Initially quite closed and tart, over the course of an hour in air, this turns into quite a beauty. Blue and black fruits. Brier. And in the end, lovely cherry notes... all mixed up in the zin profile. Not overpowering in the in your face, zinberry style. More refined and elegant. At 26 bucks, get some if you can.
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[Stromboli] Blueberry on the nose. Not overly tannic. Light for a Zin, esp a Ridge. Pepper, jammy, clove, licorice, a little earthy. Started a little tight would recommend giving it 2 hours to open up. I think that my last sip was the best.
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There is a lot of good stuff going on in this Lytton. Our tasting group blind tasted 4 '02 Ridge Zins and this was the most tannic of the bunch by far. I am interested in seeing how this vintage ages and those tannins calm down and integrate well. Our group favorite was the Late Picked Pagani Ranch, which was ripe and massive.
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Nice fruity jammy zin with a good tannic structure that should make it a good drinker for years to come. Another winner from this great producer. Go Ridge!!!
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Inky purple blue. Gorgeous nose of rasberry jam, chocolate, clove. The palate was lush, complete and supple. What balance. Huge supperripe red and black fruits, moccha, blueberry and a touch of cherry cola. This was the winner with a perfect thanksgiving feast. One of the most rock solid zins to date, balanced, dense, fruit of granite, this is long and strong for a zinner at this price.
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Enjoyed this over two nights. Dark crimson in color with a beautiful nose of blackberry, hardwood, and spice. The body was quite a nice mix of spice and fruit. The finish was slightly thin. All in all, a nice california zin that I would definately drink again.
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Had this at a resturant this evenning. Good Spicey fruity zin. Very aromatic with lots of fruit. Nice and spiecy maybe even a tad hot on the palate. Enjoyed this zin but I believe that I like the 2001 more.
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Deep crimson in color. Huge, gorgeous nose, very typical of the high end Ridge bottlings. Spicy blackberries, cherries, cedar and woodshop are all plentiful. On the palate this comes across immediately as seriously rich and sweet. Everything is in balance, and there is lots of everything. The finish is long and sweet with bright fruits. Delicious, and should last for 5-8 years. I will drink mine up now, however, to enjoy the youthfulness.
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10/3/2023 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 99 Points
Medium depth purple red, clearing rim. Bouquet of bilberries, damsons and strawberries. Soft, generous palate black cherry jam, damsons and bilberries, ripe tannins and lovely acidity making a perfectly balanced, rich, fruity red with a long dry finish.
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9/5/2023 - Torchy wrote: 90 Points
From magnum. Dark red, without any transition. Earthy on the palate with sweet notes of tobacco, cherry, spices/pepper. Has a sweet taste on the palate. Cough syrup, heater, and some steel.
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8/13/2023 - jjct wrote:
This bottle was going strong, with no sign of decline. Other than a bit of pruny fruit and rich body, this holds it alcohol and ripeness very well.
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1/27/2023 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep crimson robe with clear rim. Bouquet is deep and rich with black cherry, damson and aniseed. Palate is packed with black fruit, liquorice and saddle leather, soft tannins and well balanced acidity. Holding up well after 30 years.
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2/7/2022 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Medium red color. Sweet raspberry fruit, some herbal elements with a touch of band-aid.
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11/25/2021 - JohnSh wrote: 91 Points
Very hazy notes. This was drinking well now, but could last a while too. Nicely integrated, with fruit a mix of red and black fruit, slight tannins, elegant and intense at the same time. No overt oak notes at all (A-).
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9/6/2021 - Bob & Sue Atlanta wrote: 92 Points
Bought this (half case) in 2005. WA review said to drink by 2011. Still have a couple of bottles. Ridge has a reputation regarding the ageability of their wines. This is no exception. I would never guess 2002. Could be a 2015. I will say that it was stored properly. Great color, fruit, balance and density. Much better than last tasted in 2005. Ridge has always made exceptional wines... I need to buy more.
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3/13/2021 - fmoehl@yahoo.com wrote: 90 Points
Excellent wine, it held up better than expected. Still lively fruit.
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1/29/2020 - jjct wrote:
This bottle was a bit of a disappointment - thin with some alcoholic heat, tannins still stern.
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11/10/2019 - MichielV wrote: 93 Points
W ribroast. Bob Thomas visiting. This was a superb bottle. Just great fruit,color, structure and length. Very interesting redberry flavors that went well with the dish. Very good zin example and reinforced my thoughts about LS with age on it. Of course the cork broke when opening. Had it next to the 2005 Geyserville. This is better!
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4/18/2018 - DaleW wrote:
In the zone. Sweet dark berry fruit, a garrigue/herbal touch, ready to go. Could be longer. B/B+
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4/10/2017 - blanquito wrote: 90 Points
A somewhat disappointing showing. Lovely nose that is archetypal Ridge zinfandel- spicy, sweet, dark, brambly. The palate is good, showing porty on first pour, but the juiciness comes out with air. It lacks some palate impact despite all the stuffing and it shows disjointed. I like each glass better when first poured. Still, quite quaffable and fun, I was just expecting more. Based on this, no reason to hold these longer.
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3/5/2017 - MichielV wrote: 92 Points
Dinner @ Jenny / Rudy. Flanksteak. Had this next to the 2000. This was clearly the better wine in fruit, complexity, body, finish. Very good combo with the marinated steak and the cold winter evening. Still very fresh with great elegant nose. The cork came out broken (dry) as with many of my 10+ year Ridges. Very good wine!!! And great to taste next to something
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5/28/2016 - timewithwine wrote:
This wine expresses a deep cranberry color suggesting something different about it from its darker tablemates. This wine is lighter than Wine 1, both in color and in heft. Loads of coffee and mocha on the finish. Some tasters detected molasses or sassafras on the nose. Some heavy sediment at the neck. 14.4% alc. Recommended. All wines tasted with homemade dry rubbed smoked pork shoulder BBQ). 05.28.16 with good friends to celebrate Memorial Day holiday.
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3/24/2016 - Ardross Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brick red rather than purple after its maturation. Wonderful hedgerow flavours of the wildest of blackberries with a undernote of prunes and treacle . Not exceptionally long but very fine
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3/10/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
A Ridge Lytton Spring Vertical and a few others (our home): Dark purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is chalky with dust and black raspberries. juicy acidity. Lots of red fruit. Deep but leaner on the palate. Nice complexity. Drinking youthfully.
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2/12/2016 - Barry Raterink Likes this wine: 94 Points
We drank the 2002 and the 2003 side by side. Both fantastic. The 2002 was beautiful, the fruit was pronounced, blackberry, currants, tremendous balance, great acidity. This wine was very much alive after 14 years, must have been the petite syrah in the blend I suppose. Likely would have held up for 3-5 more years but was tremendous last night.
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2/10/2016 - Mr T wrote:
pretty good but amazing how ripe even now
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1/14/2016 - tygo1214 Likes this wine:
First time drinking Ridge with age. Very pleasant. After first opening, I thought it may well be close to done, but it kept getting better as the night went on. Still drinking well on night two, though diminished slightly.
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12/20/2015 - rhanke Likes this wine: 91 Points
nice age, mellow with touch of blackberry, enjoyed
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9/8/2015 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 98 Points
Medium depth of colour - purplish robe and clear meniscus. Bouquet is rich and powerful and packed with ripe black fruit and aromas of violets. On the palate - a rich, mature and deep mix of oak, damson, mulberry and bilberry flavours backed by gentle tannins, ripe acidity, all in perfect balance. One of the best!
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7/7/2015 - jdbooth Likes this wine: 86 Points
This wine is getting long in the tooth, but still enjoyable. The fruit is very smooth and still rich, but the wine is now a lot more monochromatic than before.
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5/31/2015 - timewithwine wrote:
A blend of 75% Zin, 20% Petit Sirah, 5% Carignane. Even with 13 years of development on it, this wine showed the youth and power of brown sugar, plum and Zin funk when first opened. Reading the back label, apparently the power of the wine was a concern at its inception with Mr. Draper remarking that Ridge both destemmed the Zin and opted not to employ punch downs due to the tannic power of the old vine Zin and that they used egg whites to help soften the wine before finishing it. This is not nearly as complex or nuanced as the East Bench. The finish is hard and dominated by molasses. Typically, I find molasses and brown sugar notes only in younger Zins, not ones as old as this LS. Nevertheless, its power is a good match for the smokey goodness of the (pork) ribs. Loads of sediment chips out with the final pour. The bottle retained a shadow of sediment about the shoulder from opening to end. 14.4% alc. Recommended.
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5/11/2015 - MichielV wrote: 92 Points
w pheasant! Very good combo. PnP beautiful fresh color, and good solid nose. On Palate justwell integrated fruit and spice and tannins. Lots of character. Good finish! Love the LS always.
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11/26/2014 - MichielV wrote: 90 Points
w pasta on night before thanksgiving. Major snow storm wet icy snow. Truck slid of the road but 2 good samaritans got me home. Yummy wine. Notes pretty consistent. Drink now is excellent advise. Yummy solid zin that tastes very young but is not wild but round. Yummy. Good winter wine
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11/18/2014 - Timbalimba wrote: 91 Points
Good colour, concentrated prune juice, not much age. Deep, generous bouquet with sweet kirsch fruit straight from the Black Forest, blue plum, vanilla, oak. Full bodied, creamy, a whack of black cherries against a backdrop of dates, vanilla, and Asian spice. Well executed finish with fresh acidity and good length, there's just a hint of heat from the alcohol. Drink now
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11/17/2014 - Hexter7 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured without decant. Good fruit, balanced and fine tannins - drinking very well right now but it's ready so drink up! Always liked this wine, good value and I'm looking forward to trying other more current vintages in the next few years.
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10/4/2014 - AlexHop wrote: 93 Points
Really nice rich fruit flavors. Classic zin with a touch of spice but really great red fruit. Nice long finish and perfect balance.
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6/8/2014 - timewithwine wrote:
CORKED! But DD says it was "drinkably corked". With pork BBQ from the BBQ Exchange.
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6/2/2014 - MusignyBlanc wrote:
Tannins resolved and I tend to find that when these wines lose their tannins that they can be on the sweet/stewed side without the foil of some structure. But this is relatively "in-check" for a full-bodied Zinfandel with good complexity and depth.
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6/1/2014 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Liked this much more than the last bottle. Low ABV of 13.8% for Zin. Nicely balanced, Nose of spices, anise, red and black fruits and some earthy notes. Flavor very pleasant reflecting the nose with soft mouthfeel. Notes from memory a day later.
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2/11/2014 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rich, well rounded and perfectly balanced mix of damson, mulberry and black cherry flavours.
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2/1/2014 - SPierson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still plenty of life left...
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12/10/2013 - Mr T wrote:
No surprise that this is a 2002 vintage wine...juicy ripe fruit berries and plum but not prune...ready to go but should hold on for quite some time...paired well with roast pork loin
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11/1/2013 - mlawren1 wrote: 94 Points
Fresh and fruity. Berries and plums just burst out of the glass. long smooth finish.
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10/4/2013 - Ambienz wrote: 88 Points
- Garnet color with a medium finish.
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10/3/2013 - slanum wrote:
Copious amounts of brambly fruit aromas leave no doubt about what this wine is, or where it came from. Remnants of oak remain in what once must have been rather woody, but they have integrated pretty well. More ripe, spicy, brambly fruit in the mouth. Ripeness level is right at the upper limit for me, though not over the line. There's a bit of heat from the alcohol but I don't find it excessive. I don't know that I am able to appreciate many secondary or tertiary characteristics of aged Zinfandel so I don't see why I would want to age this any further.
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6/21/2013 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
This must have been a lovely wine but now though drinkable definitely fading.
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5/29/2013 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
W roast chicken. Great dark color, elegant nose of fruit an spice. The palate was terrific. No overpowering zin or petit syrah. Very good fruit, smoke spice and other flavors. Great length and wonderful finish. This is very good and has a lot more life left. This will get even moet interesting in next few yrs. 5??? Yummy!!
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3/3/2013 - MichielV Likes this wine: 90 Points
W hamburger on sunday nite. Great color showing some age. Good spicey fruity nose. On palate a lot of sweetness, fruit and spice. Good finish. Great wine. Drink now!! I thought the LS would live a bit longer but this is right on.
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2/22/2013 - magnus_dahlbeck wrote: 88 Points
Peek time. Smooth tannins. Fruity taste, silky, blackberries.
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2/3/2013 - MLipton wrote:
Opened to accompany the 49ers return to the Super Bowl. Rich, plummy fruit was balanced by minty and cedary elements. Very nice acidity made for a great food wine, and it was a treat with the broiled rack of lamb.
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1/5/2013 - Chaz Bham wrote: 92 Points
Found this at the bottom of a bin that I haven't touched for years. Not expecting much, but what a pleasant surprise. Deeply colored with some gentle amber edges. Wonderfully complex and balanced, with some lovely orange-peel and compote elements. Age has been kind to this wine, and a welcome change from full throttle Cali Zins. I wish I had more...just delicious with our richly spiced pork roast.
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11/3/2012 - timewithwine wrote:
This is my first taste of this particular Lytton Springs effort and a very decent effort it is. A blend of 75% Zin, 20% Petite Sirah and 5% Carignane. Loads of plum, coffee and rhubarb with a mocha finish. It goes down easy and fast; so fast in fact that I didn’t bother to jot down notes. Most of the comments were either how well it paired with the slow smoked porcine goodness from the BBQ Exchange and how smooth and silky the wine is. The mouthfeel has heft and a glycerol-like feel. Only a shadow of sediment appearing at this point. 14.4% alc. With pork BBQ. It’s as if this Q was made for this wine; outstanding! Highly Recommended.
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10/22/2012 - europat55 wrote: 86 Points
2002 Zinfandel Retrospective (Tasted Blind) (Rich and Peggy's House, Los Altos): Somewhat shy nose. Soft palate. Tasted blind.
My 7th. Group's 10th.
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8/11/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Good example of Ridge zins. Very nice wine but nothing particularly special.
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7/15/2012 - jmht wrote: 91 Points
Much better than prior bottles-- nose of plums, hint of menthol, palate of plums, red fruits, more balanced than I recall, no heat evident despite 14+%, long raspberry finish. Delicious.
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5/27/2012 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
34th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2007s (Rich & Dana's): Perfumed red fruit highlights in the bouquet, along with cherry and spice qualities. Medium-bodied with nice acidity and flavors of pepper and red fruit.
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4/22/2012 - WineDoctors wrote: 91 Points
beautiful well balanced fruit, nice acid, stid drinking well. whole wheat brie and broccoli di rape pizza, gremolata. yum
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2/27/2012 - spineguy wrote: 86 Points
Overall pleasant. Limited concentration and a bit vegtal. Is it getting near the end of its drinking window?
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2/20/2012 - jsebiri wrote:
We cracked this for the super bowl , very nice still . All good . two glasses were all good A week later as well.
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2/19/2012 - oldwines wrote: 90 Points
Medium dark ruby color. Nose of spicy red fruit. Moderately fruit forward and mildly tannic. Aftertaste is of chocolate covered raspberries with a hint of tea.
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2/18/2012 - cassel wrote: 91 Points
Delicious berry well rounded body. Slightly tannic. Went well with lamb chops.
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2/11/2012 - ogres3 wrote:
Casualty of wine tasting. Has aged well. Nice fruit, good finish. Tannins/alcohol have mellowed.
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1/7/2012 - stoneb wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, fully mature zin. Rich blackberry and cranberry fruit, sweet tannins (almost port-like), some oak and underbrush, and a medium finish. Will keep for awhile longer, but probably won't get better. Very enjoyable.
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12/25/2011 - typ993 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just right. Lots of fruit without a lot of tannin, but still some structure. Time to drink, though.
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12/2/2011 - wineamateur wrote: 94 Points
This is extraordinary. Strong eucalyptus, root beer and medicinal aromas, but also some vividly crisp, natural fruit: not quite ripe blackberries, raspberries, black- and redcurrants. Fils the mouth and demands contemplation. Complex, well balanced, with perceptible but totally in-place acidity. Long finish - prdominantly sweet but with savoury and (attractively) bitter notes too. Really enjoyable.
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11/2/2011 - Mr T wrote:
nice ripe wine aging well
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4/12/2011 - MLipton wrote:
Starting off with a whiff of soy sauce and butterscotchy oak, this wine firmed up with air and paradoxically became younger the longer it was open. Vibrant red berry fruit with solid structure, this was another classic Lytton Springs with plenty of life left in it, even coming from our passively cooled cellar.
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3/18/2011 - wineamateur wrote: 88 Points
A powerful nose, powerfully expressive of white truffles, then giving way to ripe blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, with a hint of balsamic suggesting this may be on the way downhill. Still a nice enough mouthful, with enough acidity to balance the ripe fruit.
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3/10/2011 - jmht wrote: 89 Points
Consumed over two nights-- better on second night-- similar to my TN last year. Big zin berry flavors, crushed raspberry, blackberry, slightly liqueur/unctuous quality-- just big, bold fruit day 1 + heat;l day two, still alot of fruit and almost in balance.
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3/4/2011 - Yamadori wrote: 89 Points
Typical Zin nose of bramble with some cranberry and wet paint. Dark berry fruit on the palate with some licorice and vanilla. Not as much acidity as i would expect from this wine. Finish is moderate with soft tannins. Some pepper and spice at the end with a touch of alcohol showing. Very good overall but, for me, not as good as some other vintages of the wine.
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11/1/2010 - WineGirlOne wrote: 91 Points
Fully mature
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10/31/2010 - pmk wrote: 91 Points
A wonderful blend that combines the best of Zinfandel with the fruit of other varietals. Medium dark color with ripe red berry flavors,
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9/26/2010 - yhn wrote: 92 Points
Nose - shy mentholated black currant, deep and sharp, hints of dusty jujube.
Pert peppery black currant, blackberry, dried cranberry, touch of sweetness, dusty tannin, violets. Pert, round, slightly bitter finish. Drink '15-'25 92+ pts
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6/30/2010 - jmht wrote: 90 Points
Consumed over two nights-- better on second night. Nose of crushed raspberry, blackberry, sandalwood; palate of same + big zin berry flavor, good underlying spice and slightly liqueur/unctuous quality. Fantastic exuberant version of zin (day 2)-- too much fruit on day 1. Decant if drinking now. May improve with 2+ years?
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3/24/2010 - winejnky wrote: 89 Points
Classic Lytton Springs, slightly stemmy, but full fruit, generous mouth feel and long finish. A robust zin without alcohol heat and loads of jammy fruit.
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3/2/2010 - DocH wrote: 86 Points
Good all round zinfandel with 20% "petite syrah" and a little 5% Carignane, not too high in alcohol at 14%. nothing special in nose or mouth though. Has lost a little body compared to one tasted 18 months ago.
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12/19/2009 - burgundyhound wrote: 89 Points
Big fruit, long finish, but a little flabby. Missing some structure.
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7/19/2009 - WineGirlOne wrote: 88 Points
A little disappointing. The alcohol (though a modest 14.5%) really shows on the nose even after an hour or more of decanting. Definitely zin on the palate - ripe berry and red fruit with a hint of bramble on the finish. Still showing some tannins but I wouldn't age this much longer.
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6/15/2009 - DaleW wrote:
Rich zin-berries, crushed raspberry and blackberry flavors, big but not ungainly, sweet fruit with structure. There a little exotic note of sandalwood and vanilla on top, nice wine. B++
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4/28/2009 - Frederyck wrote:
I can't fault this wine for me moving away from liking zinfandel. Raspberries, almost like winegums on the nose and lots of fruitiness on the palate with hints of vanilla and blackberries, perhaps even some cranberry touch to it. Very nice packaging, and I suppose an attractive wine, but it falls a bit short of not having a certain robustness and structure.
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3/30/2009 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
This wine has reached a good, perhaps peak, point in its evolution. I would consider drinking during the next 6 months. Nose is very zin-like, crushed raspberry, a little phenolic paint thinner. Chocolately, blueberry fruit, with moderate acidity and tannin and a back note of Thai basil and underbrush. Very good, but not outstanding and unlikely to hang in there more than 18-24 months unless you like really old zin.
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3/29/2009 - Tarrant wrote: 93 Points
Just lovely, perhaps at the prime of it's life, classic Ridge, fabulous fruit, an almost perfect blend of power and elegance - Dark, well concentrated with notes of plum, crancherry, black fruit, spice, pepper and vanilla on the nose, awesome structure and balance, complex, very interesting, smooth on the finish with terrific length, outstanding (93 Points).
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2/20/2009 - SadEdjo wrote: 88 Points
For some reason, much more oak on the palate than I recall - possible bottle variation or even fault. It masked the otherwise deep plum and blackberry. Even after a day it was still noticeably oaky.
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1/21/2009 - Beavis77 wrote:
Wine 5 of Ridge Zinfandel Tasting:
Mentholated blackberries on the nose. Some nice Dry Creek bramble. A underlying vein of wet leather.
Palate loaded with big blackberry. Immensely fresh fruit. Very linear and focused. Nice tannic structure. Tastes like a youngster.
Great wine that showed no difference in color or freshness from the 2006.
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12/27/2008 - Yiannis wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tastings. Definitely, one of the best Zinfandel-based wines. At its prime.
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12/25/2008 - gdbarton1@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
Magnum, decanted for 1 hour. Deep purple/black color. Ripe, fresh nose of black fruit.
Big, ripe black fruit, somewhat out of balance, semi sweet finish. Some thought that its was too young, but it had not integrated and balanced out.
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10/22/2008 - sarciero wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine. Deep color, smooth on the palate. Drinking nicely right now.
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10/8/2008 - Vinomarcus wrote: 91 Points
Fully resolved, lovely soft fruit, sage, pepper and soy. Good velvety texture and a nice finish.
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10/5/2008 - appleforest wrote: 90 Points
Decanted, let sit about an hour. Even still, it was opening up more in the glass. At first it was a bit too tannic, and then came across very well balanced. Seems ready to drink, but it seems fine to let it go another year.
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10/5/2008 - sonakul_t wrote: 88 Points
Deep red colour. Very good nose on opening although it did fade after a while. Lush fruits, spice and dried cherries.
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10/1/2008 - jsebiri wrote: 89 Points
from magnum next to a 1999 from magnum ......very tastey good bottle of wine at the very least lots of fruit and tannins very well put togather
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9/30/2008 - Topper wrote: 91 Points
There are certainly enough notes on this wine already so I will just add that this was an enormous crowd pleaser at a large party. Very fruit-forward (still) and appealing. I often recommend this when asked for a delicious wine that won't break the bank.
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9/9/2008 - guitarguy wrote: 87 Points
Wine seemed muted in all aspects. Color was light for a zin, more grenache than petit syrah (I know, LS is only 75% or so zinfandel in the field blend). Nose is pretty classic Ridge, cassis, underbrush, hint of high ketone (paint thinner). The wine had some cherry and raspberry fruit, a pretty obvious level of acidity, some tobacco and tar tendencies. Just okay. While I applaud this wine's restraint versus so many fruit bombs today, I am not convinced that was the goal, stylisitically. It seems more like the wine has peaked and is falling precipitously. I would make this a one year drinking window, I do not think it will hit the ten years or so Paul Draper predicts.
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8/23/2008 - A&C wrote: 91 Points
This was perfect. Matched perfectly with the BBQ ribs and hamburgers at the Kanter's Night at the Museum Party. A perfect match. This has been the summer of Zinfandel, and tonight is no exception.
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7/27/2008 - jsebiri wrote:
lots of fruit and charactor , nice deep purplr color. very cab like actually , a favorite of the nite. 88
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7/15/2008 - joefouche wrote: 90 Points
Deep cherry red color. Spicy & smoky nose. Very smooth, quite juicy fruit followed by very long sweet oak finish. Needs to pair with milder food as it is not a fruit bomb by any stretch.
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7/10/2008 - winejnky wrote: 89 Points
Smooth & juicy. Dense and concentrated black fruit flavors with plenty of subtleties. Long, but not big finish, very balanced wine.
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6/25/2008 - PinotDude wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and aired for one hour before tasting. Nose of dark cherry, black pepper and a smoky/charred flavor. Taste is similar with earthy flavors and licorice. Feels very earthy and traditional. Good balance and finish, fully mature. I had this with a grilled steak enhanced with a rub. Nose of dark cherry, black pepper and smoke/charred flavor. On the deck with our granddaaughter. This is my last bottle of 02, but I still have 04.
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6/9/2008 - huse wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful deep red color. Sumptuous nose, showing intense aromas of blackberry and sweet toasted oak. On the palate : a very juicy and rather feminine wine, medium bodied, with an elegant structure and completely integrated tannins. Respectable aftertaste. No need to wait, this is drinking very well now.
Mooie dieprode kleur. Weelderige neus, met intense aroma’s van zwarte bessen en een duidelijke maar zachte houttoets. Smaak : een delicate, eerder vrouwelijke wijn, elegant van structuur en met volledig versmolten tannines. Behoorlijke afdronk. Deze wijn is nu perfect drinkbaar ; niet al te lang meer wachten..
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6/8/2008 - Frederyck wrote: 92 Points
Blood red colour with hints of purple-black. Cherry, blackberries and dark berry jam on the nose. Wonderful length in the taste spreading lingonberries, juicy plums and lots of strength. The wine developed enormously during the tasting and the following meal, carrying the charcoal grilled veal with vigour. Exceptional.
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5/26/2008 - jim dixon wrote: 90 Points
WS gave this 83 points. Parker gave it 93. I worried that it was a bit dried out initially but with a couple hours of air it was what I hoped for from Lytton Springs. I've come to prefer Geyserville over time, but this is still one of the great under $50 wines made in the U.S.
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5/10/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Like all Ridges, needs an hour in the decanter. Perhaps would have picked up more complexity with air, but it was gone!
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4/4/2008 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Vibrant black cherry and boysenberry nose with smoky spice and floral elements. Good presence on the palate with fine tannins. Yummy.
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1/16/2008 - cisco wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 30 mins. I enjoyed this wine. While it is ready to drink the components are there to let this age another 2-3 years if not more. Smooth, balanced, medium bodied,with a long finish. I like the secondary flavors that this bottle had developed. There is still some brambly zin character but this is no young alcoholic zin.
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12/25/2007 - JoshuaG wrote: 90 Points
Not sure if I just dont like zin as much any more but this is a better than average zin. Likely a high scoring zin if you are a big fan of the varietal.
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10/31/2007 - 20oldfarm wrote: 88 Points
popped and drank. nice, but simple. not much of a nose. not a spicey zin, either. perhaps I'll let the next bottle decant.
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10/24/2007 - Patrick wrote: 91 Points
Muddy, blood red; right off the bat a huge creamy blackberry nose with some hints of bacon and smoke (which could be from dinner); supple, juicy and balanced on the palate with just a little dust; smooth finish with just a touch of heat showing at the back of the throat; prototype zin from the best in the biz
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10/14/2007 - sakemakibug wrote: 85 Points
getting a bit flat, but still rich overall. drink up.
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8/1/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Paumanok and Dinner with Mikhail: Deep ruby color. Bright nose of raspberry liquor, strawberries, and almond oil, with some definite earthiness coming out as it got more air. Good balance on the palate, fine tannins could last this one another five plus years for sure.
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8/1/2007 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
Paumanok and early dinner after: can someone explain what WS was tasting when they gave it 83 points??
this is a baby, a given, but right out of the gate this showed impressive ripe red fruit, lots of structure - both acid and tannins, ripe zin-like middle with pepper and raspberry, juicy not jammy fruit, touch of typical zin bitterness on the finish, long finish at that, needs years but seems like a wine that one would be happy to drink for years to come. excellent....(arg that means another producer i need to add to "must buy list"...)
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7/21/2007 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
Perfect Ridge Zin blend. Great balance, reticent nose that opened further with air, better still in 2-5 years. Delicious.
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7/15/2007 - dabovino wrote: 92 Points
yummy, still young, but very enjoyable.
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6/17/2007 - dbkitc wrote: 91 Points
Ridge has a great showing tonight as this is also lovely. Deep ruby with cool dirt and earth mixed in with the wild berries. Believe it or not, this wine is balanced and gives a lot of pleasure. (91)
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5/19/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Nose of brambly fruits -- blackberry, black raspberry syrup -- spice and smoke with a little heat. On the palate it is very full and bright with residual tannin.
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4/21/2007 - SuitePhoto wrote: 92 Points
A very elegant wine - very balanced with a nose of eucalyptus, which I found interesting for a Zin but it blended very well with the oak. Mid-palate was filled with very subdued brambly fruits, with a somewhat short finish. I'm wondering about the longevity of this wine as the tannins were almost completely integrated. Wonderful bottle!
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4/1/2007 - cooter wrote: 90 Points
I don't think that anyone consistently makes $25-30 bottles of wine as well as the folks at Ridge.
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4/1/2007 - wabi47 wrote: 91 Points
very tasty brambly berry and currant fruit; excellent balance; medium to full bodied, and not over the top, but with plenty of staying power; just right;
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3/15/2007 - bevort wrote:
Really lovely and well made. Drinking perfect now and I dont think it will improve further. Dark colour, dark mature berries and spice in the nose. Kind of ' thick', warm, lush spicy taste.
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3/3/2007 - Big Dog wrote: 92 Points
Great bottle on zin with nice brambly fruits, spice and structure. The wine was drinking great now, but will hold for many years but why wait? The finish lasted for 30 seconds.
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1/19/2007 - Squeeze wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful wine, well integrated tannins, nicely layered fruit, wish I had more to age.
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1/8/2007 - bstueber wrote: 92 Points
delicious. berries, plump, few more years in it but awesome right now!
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12/15/2006 - glg wrote: 89 Points
While some think these wines can age, I tend to prefer them in their youth. To me, this wine has peaked and is on the way down. Some of the bright, spicy fruit has started to recede.
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7/7/2006 - paulg936 wrote: 92 Points
Terrific wine at a decent value.
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5/17/2006 - mdstenner wrote: 91 Points
Another great showing for this wine, with lots of brambly fruit on the nose, a rich palate and a lingering finish.
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4/16/2006 - Spencer wrote:
I brought this to Easter dinner with my family, but they drank it so fast I never even had a chance to try it.
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4/10/2006 - Arch57 wrote: 89 Points
Ridge wines are always consistent. Was looking for a good Zin to go with grilled Jamaican Jerk pork chops. The wine has just enough "sweetness" to pair well with the food. It had a wonderful bouquet of fresh fruit. We opened a $15 Zin after this one and the difference was dramatic.
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3/12/2006 - SadEdjo wrote:
bright smooth raspberry, wet stone & hint of nutmeg.
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1/20/2006 - jakob.krummenacher@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Incredibly fruity. The nose is full of blackberries and plum. It felt a bit hot as a result of the high alcohol content. It appears a bit disjointed and a little unbalanced. However, it's pleasant and with a nice finish. Drink 2006-2009.
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1/8/2006 - Capodistria wrote:
I have to line up behind the other happy CT reviewers. Abundant blackberry fruit, yet a very elegant rather than muscular wine, with a solid backbone. Wonderful food wine that we paired successfully with a deer roast (note to Scandinavians: rådjursstek). Reluctantly, I'll try to keep a bottle for a few years, though every time I cook I'll start wondering why.
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1/3/2006 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
This zin is really as good as others have noted. All four of us that consumed the bottle loved it. It seems that this zin is at it's peak right now and is wonderfully balanced between the fruit and tannins. Ridge has the knack of making a well balanced zin that ages very well.
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1/1/2006 - decaturwinedude wrote: 92 Points
Opened this tonight alongside Rick Bayless' rustic Tortilla Soup and it stood up nicely. Big nose of red and black fruits followed by a lush sweetness on the palate marked by notes of cherry, cocoa and some cinnamon. Clean finish with some pretty bold tannins still lingering. No doubt this has years ahead of it, but it's a damn fine Zin right now. This one goes down way too easy...
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12/18/2005 - dsimmons wrote: 93 Points
This wine is a really nice zin. The best bottle yet out of my stash. Wish I had more.
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12/16/2005 - Danny Joe wrote: 90 Points
Deep red berries, leather, forest floor. Opens up nicely. A wonderful wine, nice tannins. It could keep for a while.
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10/8/2005 - bevort wrote: 91 Points
Color almost purple, superb nose of fresh lush fruits, the wine has a nice powerful concentration with an almost 'Rhonish' kind of touch of pepper. I think it has a broad appeal reaching many consumers. Definately a food wine for me./steen
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9/22/2005 - ERoss wrote: 93 Points
An Evening of Lytton Springs (Chez Ross, Vernon, CT): Slightly reduced, carmelized on the nose, with some flinty notes as well. Great notes of blueberry and vanilla. Solid, rich mouthfeel, with briary black fruit flavors. Finishes long, and drinking well right now. Group placement: 4/6.
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7/9/2005 - mdstenner wrote: 92 Points
TWC does Californian Zinfandels (Rex and Judy's): Another great showing. Sweet, ripe fruits on the nose, with blueberry and licorice notes. Big fruits in the mouth, this wine is already evolving well, with tons of red and black fruits. Just beautiful, elegant but fruity.
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7/4/2005 - 97mjr wrote:
[Shake Shack] Huge oak, vanilla, alcoholic, red berry. A bad bottle though not corked. Will write it off to a combo of the 375ml bottle and storage.
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6/13/2005 - mdstenner wrote: 92 Points
Whipped up a quick dinner of fresh pasta, red sauce and chicken. An Italian would have been best but I could not resist opening one of the bargain priced (store error?) Ridge 2002 Lytton Springs (75% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 5% Carignane) bottles purchased last week. Pouring the wine into the glass was a delight as the aroma hit me almost immediately and the purple hued wine splashed enticingly around the glass. The first real whiff was classic ‘Draper perfume’ – rich blackberry, loamy earth, and spice. This light/medium-bodied, elegant wine dances over the palate with a brisk acidity that cut through the red sauce perfectly. The rich spiciness dictated the palate profile with brambly (hedgerow) fruits, blackberries, red cherry, and a hint of raspberry on the finish. The wine was beautifully balanced and a fine structure that bodes well for aging for 12-15 years at least. Before I knew it an hour had elapsed and half a bottle was gone. Seconday aromas (tobacco) had begun to emerge and I look forward to revisiting tonight. Magic, pure magic. Raise a glass to Mr. Paul Draper. Well done sir, well done.
Night 2 update: immediate nose of blueberry and then prunes, figs and tobacco as the wine warms from the fridge. Evolving slowly but surely - good tannic structure, no sign of breakdown. Flavors of licorice, raspberry, as well as the ever-present blackberries, and just a hint of vanilla. I look forward to this wine in a further decade when the primary fruit has devolved into something altogether more like an aged claret. Quite beguiling.
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5/1/2005 - decaturwinedude wrote:
Something wasn't quite right with this bottle. Not corked or flawed, just not a typical Lytton Zin. Far too soft and very little fruit. Even after being open for two hours, there was little going on. These Ridge zins are usually full throttle from the get-go. I dunno? Almost like it was closed for business or going through a dumb phase.. Will wait a few months to try my other two bottles...
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3/28/2005 - marcabrams wrote:
Initially quite closed and tart, over the course of an hour in air, this turns into quite a beauty. Blue and black fruits. Brier. And in the end, lovely cherry notes... all mixed up in the zin profile. Not overpowering in the in your face, zinberry style. More refined and elegant. At 26 bucks, get some if you can.
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3/4/2005 - 97mjr wrote: 90 Points
[Stromboli] Blueberry on the nose. Not overly tannic. Light for a Zin, esp a Ridge. Pepper, jammy, clove, licorice, a little earthy. Started a little tight would recommend giving it 2 hours to open up. I think that my last sip was the best.
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1/22/2005 - lewisrise wrote: 92 Points
Great Zin with cherry and raspberry with a hint of pepper. Thin to medium finish. Must buy!
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12/6/2004 - EPounds wrote:
There is a lot of good stuff going on in this Lytton. Our tasting group blind tasted 4 '02 Ridge Zins and this was the most tannic of the bunch by far. I am interested in seeing how this vintage ages and those tannins calm down and integrate well. Our group favorite was the Late Picked Pagani Ranch, which was ripe and massive.
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11/29/2004 - dsimmons wrote: 91 Points
Nice fruity jammy zin with a good tannic structure that should make it a good drinker for years to come. Another winner from this great producer. Go Ridge!!!
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11/26/2004 - Koods wrote: 92 Points
Inky purple blue. Gorgeous nose of rasberry jam, chocolate, clove. The palate was lush, complete and supple. What balance. Huge supperripe red and black fruits, moccha, blueberry and a touch of cherry cola. This was the winner with a perfect thanksgiving feast. One of the most rock solid zins to date, balanced, dense, fruit of granite, this is long and strong for a zinner at this price.
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11/21/2004 - twoamps wrote: 91 Points
good very ripe fruit, some earth, a hint of leather. nice mellow but tannic finish
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9/23/2004 - flashvictor wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed this over two nights. Dark crimson in color with a beautiful nose of blackberry, hardwood, and spice. The body was quite a nice mix of spice and fruit. The finish was slightly thin. All in all, a nice california zin that I would definately drink again.
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6/14/2004 - dsimmons wrote: 89 Points
Had this at a resturant this evenning. Good Spicey fruity zin. Very aromatic with lots of fruit. Nice and spiecy maybe even a tad hot on the palate. Enjoyed this zin but I believe that I like the 2001 more.
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5/8/2004 - JP wrote: 91 Points
Deep crimson in color. Huge, gorgeous nose, very typical of the high end Ridge bottlings. Spicy blackberries, cherries, cedar and woodshop are all plentiful. On the palate this comes across immediately as seriously rich and sweet. Everything is in balance, and there is lots of everything. The finish is long and sweet with bright fruits. Delicious, and should last for 5-8 years. I will drink mine up now, however, to enjoy the youthfulness.
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