I bought a case of this in 2001 and this was my last bottle. Once again, I'm amazed by it's quality and longevity. Rich, opulent and lingering with black fruit and perfect balance. Sorry I didn't buy 2 cases...
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A Ridge Tahoe Weekend; 6/29/2023-7/2/2023 (Edgewood Resort): The surprise of the dinner for me - this was just lovely. It is actually still on the young side (poured out of magnum) with a long life ahead but wow was this quite tasty. Great black fruits and spice and while they tried to say it was getting its Bordeaux notes I hadn’t quite gotten there yet. It’s as though heading in a very nice direction with more time to go. Very good wine.
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The oldest Zinfandel I have ever had and quite impressive. I too had difficulty with the cork (which was slightly raised, but once finally removed the wine was fine). The high acidity reminds me of a Chianti Classico, but more ripe, less tannic, and with a blueberry note. Went great with pizza, but a little too sweet for hard cheese course at end of meal.
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a troublesome cork, yet decanted successfully, 30 min of air, relished for 1.5 more. deep red/black; nose retains evidence of its youthful fruit, now more demure, sweet & spicy, hint of mint, sharpened pencil; plush cashmere sweater on the palate; absolutely delightful & completely mature, precise & pure.
may persevere, but so rewarding now. this has been a pleasure throughout its lifetime, last one.
(Old vine Zinfandel with minor amounts of Petite Sirah and Carignane. Aged in new and one year old American oak. 14.5% vol. The cork was intact with only a minor portion soaked with wine but broke as it came out). APPEARANCE: Medium deep black-reddish colour with a wide, lighter rim with a reddish brown tint. NOSE: Mature and jammy fruit with dark plums, strawberry marmalade; moderate oaky notes with hints of charring, tar, wood smoke, milk chocolate and leather. Some earthy and dusty notes as well. With more air come red gooseberries, liquorice and hints of mint.(91p) TASTE: The arrival is sweet with ripe, plum fruit and blackberries. On the mid palate it has an almost oily texture, with some milk chocolate and hints of mint, while the fruit is more sweet & sour (albeit less sour than sweet). The fruit carries on into the finish where it mixes with rather soft, rounded tannins, culminating in a lingering finish. (90-91p) OVERALL: Obviously a very mature Zinfandel, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this really appeals to me. This typically ages better than most Zins. It may now be more for drinking than keeping although I think it will survive another few years of cellaring, possibly longer. TOTAL SCORE 90 (91) points.
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A mature Zin at the end of its plateau. No rush, it has the stuff to stay where it is for a couple of years but will not improve. Even so, this still needs some air to open up. Decant gently and enjoy. Yumm.
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Last bottle. The cork had not leaked at all, but broke as it came out. Still a beautiful wine. Loaded with fruit, blackberry, black pepper, spice, cedar and mint. Great balance with a long finish. Lots of depth. Comes across more as an aged claret than a zinfandel.
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This was a surprise. A bottle lost in my cellar, not even on my inventory! WA has 2 reviews for this, one from 2000, 90 points, with a drinking window that ends in 2009, and one from 2015, for 92 points with a drinking window that ends in 2024. 70% Zin, and a completely different wine than it was in its youth. But still very enjoyable. How much you like this, would depend on how you feel about Zins that have lost much of their fruit.
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From the day it was released, this has been an outstanding rendition of Lytton Springs. From the first sip, to now, two hours after opening, it’s still outstanding. It still has plenty of fruit, and a mature complex backdrop of spice, cedar and mint. It’s perfectly balanced, and very long. Lots of depth, so it may even have upside, though I cannot imagine it being better than it is now. No rush though. There’s plenty of runway for this version of Lytton Springs.
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The color was dark upon opening and pouring. An impressive, expansive nose with dark fruits and spice with some leather and chocolate coming thru later. Lots of blackberry, pepper, a touch of licorice, some smokiness that paired wonderfully with the ribs off the grill. Unlikely to improve with more age, but a terrific mature zin.
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At the Hollywood Bowl. Double decanted off the sediment. Very new world but very well made and balanced. Nose and palate show plenty of red berries, baking spice, blackberry fruit roll up, milk chocolate and warm tilled soil. Very creamy textured midpalate with good acidity and integrated tannins keeps this structured and balanced. Hard not to enjoy.
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per report, brief decant for sediment. inky violet with legs. Explosive dark fruits on the nose, hint of cedar/leather. Velvety dark fruits, hint of honey and caramel, some cinnamon/baking spice. Very deep, great balance. No stewed fruits for this bottle (purchased recently on secondary market). A highlight, still drinking really well, at peak to my taste. 94 pts
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Holy cow is this good! Still showing plenty of fruit, but also lots of earthy spice, it's as good (or better) Lytton as I have ever had. Rich yet balanced, it sustains a depth from first sip to last swallow that no other edition of this wine has matched in my experience. Compelling wine that goes beyond what 99.999% of zinfandels shoot for and what 99.999999% achieve.
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As others have pointed out, this wine is simply wonderful. In my opinion, despite the hype about certain other California wine celebrities, Paul Draper is a genius!!!
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Crystalline garnet colored. The most vibrant example to show that some Zinfandels actually can age. This is lovely with rich cherry, porty, advanced flavors. Still with a hint of tannins. I get the sense this could hold at this stage for years. IMHO, a true American grand cru, as silly as that may be to say.
If you're a fan of Lytton springs, absolutely recommend keeping a few aside for long aging.
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Great wine with excellent balance. Predominantly black fruit on nose and palate with cinnamon and liquorice flavours adding to the complexity. Drank with Chinese food with John and Judy - great combination.
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Rich, velvety and perfectly balanced, this is an outstanding Lytton Springs. Ripe black berries, a hint of spice and some leathery/earthy elements make for a complete aromatic and flavor experience. Truly a delicious wine.
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In some ways, Ridge Lytton Springs is the best wine in the world. It is just staggering how much pleasure that this wine has delivered over the years, through many vintages. Experience has shown Lytton Springs reaches its apogee 12-15 years after the vintage, and the 1999 is right on schedule. It is simply gorgeous right now, brimming with depth, but it also has a sense of humor. It's serious in all the right places, but is so very approachable and open. Drink now and buy more while it's still one of the greatest wine bargains in the world.
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This was a gift so now I have no more. I don't generally enjoy zins but this just blew me away. Beautifully knit with intense berry fragrances perfectly balanced against acid and soft tannins. Paired with seared Alakan salmon and risotto. Odd perhaps but it worked perfectly.
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Deep ruby-red. Gorgeous red berry nose with earthy undertones. On the palate plush, candied red fruits coupled with layered notes of pepper, sweet spices and soy. Rich and opulent, yet very balanced. Retains an elegance that very few Zins achieve. This will keep well for another decade. Absolutely fabulous, together with 2005 my favourite vintage for Lytton Springs.
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A fantastic bottle of wine. Nice round tannins, fruit and finish. I think this bottle has a few years to go. Great paired with a grilled t-bone. I love ridge..
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Still a very good glass of wine, but coming closer to it's end...Wonderful nose and rich, fruity taste. Almost no tanins left. Black berries- and currant, liquorice, tobacco, earth, acetone. medium aftertaste.
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Warm berry nose (raspberries, red currant) with sweet caramel and some anise. Very harmonious on palate with mellowed tannins and a medium body. Finishes elegant and very long. Brilliant example of a mature Ridge zinfandel blend, perhaps the best I've ever had (we drank the 2004 Ridge Geyserville afterwards which was also very good but not as balanced as the 1999 Lytton Springs).
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W roated chicken and spicey sauce. This was terrific wine. Gorgeous nose upon opening. Great nose in the glass, beautiful fresh color of reddish berries. Nose was very balanced. On palate this was a great combination of fruit, tannins, spice. Absolutely in very good spot now. Very good combination with the food. Great finsh of balanced wine. This will live for a few more years! Had the 2000 afterwards which was completely different, much more jammy fruity zin versus a balanced wine. Rudy visiting for dinner.
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Fantastic zinfandel. Fresh, red fruited nose. Sweet red fruits, unctuous mouth coating middle, dusty tannins, with a slight dryness. Had a "delicious quality" that is hard to pinpoint.
Tasted at the DC/NOVA offline
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Paul Draper's notes say: "Over time, we have noted increased size and structure in the Lytton Springs; the '99 best exemplifies this phenomenon to date. Combined with slightly more petite sirah than usual, a a fair amount of---carignane, this is a great vintage from an exceptional vineyard. The wine's weight allowed us to use more new and one-year-old American oak for aging--without detracting from the intense, layered fruit." He goes on to compare it to the structure of the '74 which was long lived and still enjoyable in 2000 and says the '99 may be equally long lived. 14.5% alcohol by volume. 70% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, and 3% Mataro. Deep inky purple; nearly opaque. Viscous. Tantalizing perfume wrapped around blackberries, black currants/cassis and what seems to be a remnant of some of that new oak used in the youth and adolescence of this wine contributing a cedar wood note. Full-bodied, full-throttled wine with long finish. As impressive now as I found Lytton Springs to be three or more decades ago. Remarkably, the price has remained fairly steady. I say hallelujah to that!
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PnP. Too young. Good sweet brambly dark berry fruit and plenty of american oak, with quite a bit of structure and very nice acidity for a zin. It shows just a bit of heat on the finish and the oak isn't fully integrated yet. It's still pretty good now but I think it needs more time to fully come together.
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Aging gracefully. Pepper, spice with just the right amount of jammy, hedonistic fruit. Ridge has that secret ingredient that most zins are missing to make it to 13 years old.
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Cork was incredibly clean (no seepage). First thing noticed was the dark color. Rich, mature aromas. Big fruit, not pruney, and well-resolved. Simply delicious for a 12-year-old Zin. Drank very well on its own as an aperitif.
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terrific nose of burnt orange-would have guessed brunello if tasted blind- smooth,sweet texture and medium weight-a pleasure to drink now or within a year
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Had it next to the 97 with flanksteak. This was much bettter. Great Zin nose of dark berries, herbs and pepper, good darkish color and on the palate great elegance, not super but very interesting and clearly showing that the Lytton Springs wines need age on them. They are OK young but just are rounder and more interesting after 5+ years in bottle. I was disappointed with the 97
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Opened and left to slow-ox for a couple of hours. Nice zinfandel nose of bramble and spice. Boysenberry and plum fruit with some anise and pepper on the palate. Nicely balanced with good acidity and some secondary notes of smoke, spice and forest floor. Medium plus finish with integrated tannins. Still going strong and should continue to drink well for a few more years. Excellent zinfandel blend.
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This bottle was right on, and 93% mature. I think it might get a little better in another year or two, but certainly great to drink right now. Spicy meat, olive, potent fruit, and very good structure, ever the slightest bit tannic still. Overall impression is one of power and finesse.
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Zinfandel tasting (non-blind): Very nice bottle. Very different from the Wellington zins it was tasted with, mainly because of the somewhat funky nose. More complex. Still has strong tannins and a long finish. Would be really interesting to see how this is after some more time. 90-91
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It seemed a little sweet and simple at first, but opened up beautifully after half and hour. A cornucopia of dried fruits and nuts with no hard edges great length. Now reaching its peak, but should last for another decade, I would think.
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Nose- deep black currant with a touch of tobacco. Sweet boysenberry with dark dusty notes, nutmeg. Nice interplay of clean youthful fruit, spice and maturity.
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Opened about an hour before serving, but did not decant. The color was squid ink dark with no bricking on the rim. A big, briery wine where the tannins have receded leaving flavors of blackberry, pepper, licorice and slate that lingers on the finish. It reminded me of an middle aged ChDP amd paired wonderfully with the smoky charred flavors of the baby back ribs that accompanied it for dinner. (The label says 70% zinfandel, 17% petite syrah, 10% carignane and 3% mataro). A wine in its prime but with several years of life remaining.
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Now refined rather than powerful. Fading and even bricking on the rim. Elegant and feminine bramble fruit, resolved tannins, pepper, and a cocoa finish. Mature but by no means downhill.
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Really showing nice at 10yrs old. Almost bordeaux like in its structure showing black currant, bramble, and licorice framed in well integrated tannins and nice acidity. A really great wine.
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Decanted 2 hours. Dark purple in color with nice jammy black fruit on the nose. medium to full bodied in the mouth. Plum and dark fruit flavors with a little spice. Nice acidity gives this wine a really nice mouthfeel. Lengthy finish. Excellent wine which is not really showing any signs of decline. Should last several more years.
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Seemed a bit harsh off the pop and pour, so decanted. At 30 minutes a bit of the acidity began to mellow. Full bodied, plummy mouth, big notes of cloves and tobacco, spicy, long finish. Plenty of fruit left after 24 hours of decant.
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Beautiful wine...nice core of fruit balanced by moderate acidity. This tasted awfully good!! I had a nice nose and mid-palate of plum and red fruits. Still drinking well...should go another 3-4 years but there is no reason to wait!
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Very dark, red color. Powerful, complex nose with spicy ripe sweet berries. Full bodied with luscious fruit and velvety tannins. Long generous aftertaste. Has reached its plateau. With this amount of fruit it will hopefully last for two to four years.
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Took to Rob on election night -color still dark ruby and there is some nice dark fruit and mint & cedar notes. Smooth and surprisingly young for it's age. Some coffee notes and a sweeter core came out after some time. Good finish but rather linear as there is a slightly high level of acidity here which detracts a little from the wideness or the complexity of the finish
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Magnum , very good bottle of wine , holding in very well not a thing wrong with this bottle 9+year old Zin plenty of fruit left cant see when this will start to head south happily think i have one more
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A little murky and showing slight browning; blackberry, a little heat, and some cream on the nose; palate showing a tiny bit of heat, blacberry, raspberry, still evident tannin with good juicy acidity; long finish
Day 2: recorked and put back in cellar; showing a little less complexity than on the first day but it's developed a really silky texture that is very enjoyable in it's own right.
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With chuck roast, braised chard and goat cheese pasta with spicy red sauce. Strong nose of fresh bay and fresh bread on opening. Nice zesty herbatious in the mouth -- will be great after decanting. An hour later this was great. Bay and eucalyptus with red fruit (cherries and strawberries) a full transition and a nice spicy finish. Great wine!
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Just delicious again. Drinks like a (good) 15 year ago Bordeaux. Full of plumy fruit, saddle leather, pencil lead and fennel. Full bodied with great texture. Fresh and alive on the finish. Amazing QPR.
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I should not have drank this - my last bottle. Still primary but gaining maturity. Anyone who thinks Zin can not age and develop needs to buy some Ridge.
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End of Summer BBQ (Seattle, WA): Deep red color. An open and expressive nose of leather, blackberry, and other dark fruits. The palate has fine well integrated tannins. Amazing balance. Smooth, seamless integrated finish. This wine is drinking amazingly well right now. Very elegant. There's lots of primary fruit but also refined and starting to show some notes of maturity.
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Red violet color. Nose of ripe plums, dried fruits and a touch of American oak. On the palate this is warm and fairly ripe. The structure seems to be fading a bit, but there was still enough backbone to enjoy this wine on Day 2. The ripe aspects of this wine seem to be accentuated with age - it does not have quite the balance it had a few years ago.
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n: dried plums, jamon, brown sugar, a bit warm, hi toned, a bit smoky, kirsch, vibrant, developing more blackberry aromas, really meaty, ferrous m: floral, nice brightness, good richness of black fruit, anise, great texture, concentrated black fruit mixed with baking spices, long finish, really opens up after an hour or so... yummy
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Similar to a Bordeaux from a ripe year - plum jam, cedar, damp earth, coffee grounds and a touch of browned butter. Smooth, silky texture. Powerful peppery finish with a kiss of tannin. At peak and good for the next 2-3 years.
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Lytton at its best. Deep blackberry on the nose, with a touch oak, but it is quite subdued. Glossy in the mouth, with great intensity and length. Drinking absolutely beautifully now. It will certainly age, but I don't know that it will ever have better balance than this.
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I liked tjis surprisingly much. Despite 70% Zindandel, the 20% Petite Syrah and Mourvedre (Mataro) give this a very nice, grippy personality without being too fruit forward. Would I go out and buy this? Probably not, but I certainly enjoyed drinking it.
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The best Ridge I've had in a while (which is saying something, given that Ridge is practically our house wine...), this shoots out of the gate with an explosive nose of briar patch, cloves, oregano, and black cherries. This wine is right at that point where fruit is still quite forward but it has developed numerous secondary characteristics, becoming more exotic with leather, tobacco, and anise with some time in the glass. Minimal heat. The mouthfeel is seamless and the finish is LONG. After opening it, we read the back label, in which Paul Draper (who is not given to hyperbole) compared it to the legendary 1974. I'm glad I have some more. Terrific with sausage lasagna.
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SMOOTH...this wine is fully integrated with all pieces acting together...wine is at a stage somewhere between young fruit driven and older cab-like...wine is quite good but lacks that defining element that if you like old zins I think it might have in another 5 or so years
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Better and more evolved than a bottle opened a week ago. A delicious nose of blackberry and plum jam, briary raspberry, damp earth, wild flowers and a hint of cedar. Smooth on the palate, with bright, refreshing red fruits and a touch of tar. A wonderful balance of acids and fruit on the finish. At peak. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
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This was lovely and moving into a tertiary level. Immediately, on the palate it was sweet, soft, subtle, and light, with complex aromas of currant, tobacco, and redwood. There was good medium ruby color. It was good to very good but not great.
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Terrific stuff, probably at its peak, but should last 3-5 more years. Lots of fruit and spice, like a good zin should be, with enough acidty to stand up to a little spice.
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This was the bomb. Still very young but just delicious. The best LS i've yet tasted in my relatively young Ridge career. Have one bottle left and that's not enough.
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Still tasting really nice! Classic Ridge Zin style, ripe cherries, soft tannins, some earth and pepper in the background. Blueberry, currants, spice. I did not detect any pruiniess or port like taste. Still fresh and lively fruits and acid.
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Lots of spritz upon opening. I thought it would be poured down the drain, but after a little while in the glass, the spritz blew off leaving very ripe fruit, a little pruney and port like. Almost too sweet - a bottle out of balance.
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Lytton Springs just rarely disapoints and if it does it is usually because I drink one that is too young and needs a little time. 1st night this was great and night two is even better. Zin doesn't get more consistant and rarely much better than RLS.
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The tannins are fading leaving a well knit, balanced zinfandel even if the alcohol content is a mind-bending 14.5%. Lots of dark color with flavors of blackberry, currants, leather and pepper. The finish lingered on the palate. A wonderful bottle
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An Evening of Lytton Springs (Chez Ross, Vernon, CT): Really singing this night, my WOTN and overall group winner. At first blush, some hot alchoholic notes on the nose, but that blew off to an intense mix of black currants, blueberries, smoke, and pepper. So rich on the mouth, defnitely the darkest and most brooding of the tasting. At least a decade of life left. Group placement: 1/6.
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I have so few Ridge that cracking one always feels like a special occassion and afterwards I always wonder why I have so few Ridge; This was dark dark red but clear edged with that nice jewel tone; rich nose of bacon fat, raspberries, plums, and a high-toned sweetness that you only get at the end of a deep inhale; the nose is a little passive right out of the bottle/cellar; on the palate this is clearly well made with all the components to go years longer but initially a bit disjointed and tannic; long, pleasant finish; I suspect this will come together over the next few hours but right now it's still quite good...why don't I have more of this?
After leaving the remainder of the bottle corked on the counter for two nights I've come back to find this fully integrated, smooth and positively excellent; there is now a tiny bit of heat on the nose but otherwise a beautiful wine; don't be afraid to hold these for several more years or to decant
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Speaking of coming around, I just had the '99 last night and it has added a bunch of weight and Draper perfume in spades. There are some tannins from the petite but not enough to detract from the finish and this wine has years of life ahead. The best Ridge zin I have had in a long while and if only I had known this wine would blossom this way I would not be left with only one bottle. Folks said this would be awesome with a few years of rest but I had a difficult time believing it as this wine was very one dimensional and uninspiring upon release. Oh well, just one more reason why this addiction is so damn intriguing.
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Really outstanding Zin. Drinking very well now. Might be best to drink up now, but will leave the last bottle in the cellar for a few more years to see what happens.
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Dense & deep ruby, aromas of bright berry, blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry, sappey pine, sour cherry, blueberry, charred oak, b3, a3, t3, very fine tannic finish, dense core of fruit balanced by leather tartness, solid structure, day 2, more wood prevalent, dense but a tad bitter, still decent
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3/1/2024 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I bought a case of this in 2001 and this was my last bottle. Once again, I'm amazed by it's quality and longevity. Rich, opulent and lingering with black fruit and perfect balance. Sorry I didn't buy 2 cases...
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7/1/2023 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
A Ridge Tahoe Weekend; 6/29/2023-7/2/2023 (Edgewood Resort): The surprise of the dinner for me - this was just lovely. It is actually still on the young side (poured out of magnum) with a long life ahead but wow was this quite tasty. Great black fruits and spice and while they tried to say it was getting its Bordeaux notes I hadn’t quite gotten there yet. It’s as though heading in a very nice direction with more time to go. Very good wine.
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5/7/2022 - Rhwinetracker Likes this wine:
The oldest Zinfandel I have ever had and quite impressive. I too had difficulty with the cork (which was slightly raised, but once finally removed the wine was fine). The high acidity reminds me of a Chianti Classico, but more ripe, less tannic, and with a blueberry note. Went great with pizza, but a little too sweet for hard cheese course at end of meal.
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5/7/2021 - Easter Everywhere Likes this wine:
Very good now
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4/16/2021 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stunning. With pizza, what a drink. Fully integrated. Drink
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4/7/2021 - pigdaddy wrote: 92 Points
a troublesome cork, yet decanted successfully, 30 min of air, relished for 1.5 more. deep red/black; nose retains evidence of its youthful fruit, now more demure, sweet & spicy, hint of mint, sharpened pencil; plush cashmere sweater on the palate; absolutely delightful & completely mature, precise & pure.
may persevere, but so rewarding now. this has been a pleasure throughout its lifetime, last one.
pork neck 'chili' w/ayocote amarillo beans, avocado, pickled fresno chilies, cotija, crema
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6/30/2020 - SAND Likes this wine: 90 Points
(Old vine Zinfandel with minor amounts of Petite Sirah and Carignane. Aged in new and one year old American oak. 14.5% vol. The cork was intact with only a minor portion soaked with wine but broke as it came out).
APPEARANCE: Medium deep black-reddish colour with a wide, lighter rim with a reddish brown tint.
NOSE: Mature and jammy fruit with dark plums, strawberry marmalade; moderate oaky notes with hints of charring, tar, wood smoke, milk chocolate and leather. Some earthy and dusty notes as well. With more air come red gooseberries, liquorice and hints of mint.(91p)
TASTE: The arrival is sweet with ripe, plum fruit and blackberries. On the mid palate it has an almost oily texture, with some milk chocolate and hints of mint, while the fruit is more sweet & sour (albeit less sour than sweet). The fruit carries on into the finish where it mixes with rather soft, rounded tannins, culminating in a lingering finish. (90-91p)
OVERALL: Obviously a very mature Zinfandel, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this really appeals to me. This typically ages better than most Zins. It may now be more for drinking than keeping although I think it will survive another few years of cellaring, possibly longer. TOTAL SCORE 90 (91) points.
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6/20/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
A mature Zin at the end of its plateau. No rush, it has the stuff to stay where it is for a couple of years but will not improve. Even so, this still needs some air to open up. Decant gently and enjoy. Yumm.
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10/3/2019 - gharter Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last bottle. The cork had not leaked at all, but broke as it came out. Still a beautiful wine. Loaded with fruit, blackberry, black pepper, spice, cedar and mint. Great balance with a long finish. Lots of depth.
Comes across more as an aged claret than a zinfandel.
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6/16/2019 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was a surprise. A bottle lost in my cellar, not even on my inventory! WA has 2 reviews for this, one from 2000, 90 points, with a drinking window that ends in 2009, and one from 2015, for 92 points with a drinking window that ends in 2024. 70% Zin, and a completely different wine than it was in its youth. But still very enjoyable. How much you like this, would depend on how you feel about Zins that have lost much of their fruit.
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6/16/2019 - Rieslingfan wrote:
From the day it was released, this has been an outstanding rendition of Lytton Springs. From the first sip, to now, two hours after opening, it’s still outstanding. It still has plenty of fruit, and a mature complex backdrop of spice, cedar and mint. It’s perfectly balanced, and very long. Lots of depth, so it may even have upside, though I cannot imagine it being better than it is now. No rush though. There’s plenty of runway for this version of Lytton Springs.
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9/2/2018 - vinolovers wrote: 94 Points
The color was dark upon opening and pouring. An impressive, expansive nose with dark fruits and spice with some leather and chocolate coming thru later. Lots of blackberry, pepper, a touch of licorice, some smokiness that paired wonderfully with the ribs off the grill. Unlikely to improve with more age, but a terrific mature zin.
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7/26/2018 - ESTEELE90 Likes this wine:
At the Hollywood Bowl. Double decanted off the sediment. Very new world but very well made and balanced. Nose and palate show plenty of red berries, baking spice, blackberry fruit roll up, milk chocolate and warm tilled soil. Very creamy textured midpalate with good acidity and integrated tannins keeps this structured and balanced. Hard not to enjoy.
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7/26/2018 - fred o. Likes this wine:
per report, brief decant for sediment. inky violet with legs.
Explosive dark fruits on the nose, hint of cedar/leather.
Velvety dark fruits, hint of honey and caramel, some cinnamon/baking spice.
Very deep, great balance. No stewed fruits for this bottle (purchased recently on secondary market). A highlight, still drinking really well, at peak to my taste. 94 pts
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1/29/2018 - Jaber wrote: 91 Points
Fruit explosion on the nose, leather, moss and licorice in the mouth. Medium length finish, so smooth and silky. Superb (last) bottle.
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5/21/2017 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Holy cow is this good! Still showing plenty of fruit, but also lots of earthy spice, it's as good (or better) Lytton as I have ever had. Rich yet balanced, it sustains a depth from first sip to last swallow that no other edition of this wine has matched in my experience. Compelling wine that goes beyond what 99.999% of zinfandels shoot for and what 99.999999% achieve.
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9/17/2016 - AudunG wrote: 90 Points
Burgundy like aromas, but richer and a lot more spicy in the mouth. Tasty and lovely zin (mostly). Has aged well.
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7/2/2016 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 94 Points
As others have pointed out, this wine is simply wonderful. In my opinion, despite the hype about certain other California wine celebrities, Paul Draper is a genius!!!
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2/24/2016 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Crystalline garnet colored. The most vibrant example to show that some Zinfandels actually can age. This is lovely with rich cherry, porty, advanced flavors. Still with a hint of tannins. I get the sense this could hold at this stage for years. IMHO, a true American grand cru, as silly as that may be to say.
If you're a fan of Lytton springs, absolutely recommend keeping a few aside for long aging.
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6/13/2015 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine with excellent balance. Predominantly black fruit on nose and palate with cinnamon and liquorice flavours adding to the complexity. Drank with Chinese food with John and Judy - great combination.
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12/14/2014 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Rich, velvety and perfectly balanced, this is an outstanding Lytton Springs. Ripe black berries, a hint of spice and some leathery/earthy elements make for a complete aromatic and flavor experience. Truly a delicious wine.
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6/12/2014 - Tubulus wrote: 93 Points
Find me a better wine to drink with steak, I dare you.
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5/18/2014 - robmatic Likes this wine: 94 Points
In some ways, Ridge Lytton Springs is the best wine in the world. It is just staggering how much pleasure that this wine has delivered over the years, through many vintages. Experience has shown Lytton Springs reaches its apogee 12-15 years after the vintage, and the 1999 is right on schedule. It is simply gorgeous right now, brimming with depth, but it also has a sense of humor. It's serious in all the right places, but is so very approachable and open. Drink now and buy more while it's still one of the greatest wine bargains in the world.
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3/11/2014 - Whidah Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was a gift so now I have no more. I don't generally enjoy zins but this just blew me away. Beautifully knit with intense berry fragrances perfectly balanced against acid and soft tannins. Paired with seared Alakan salmon and risotto. Odd perhaps but it worked perfectly.
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3/11/2014 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby-red. Gorgeous red berry nose with earthy undertones. On the palate plush, candied red fruits coupled with layered notes of pepper, sweet spices and soy. Rich and opulent, yet very balanced. Retains an elegance that very few Zins achieve. This will keep well for another decade. Absolutely fabulous, together with 2005 my favourite vintage for Lytton Springs.
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6/19/2013 - CaliRice wrote: 93 Points
A fantastic bottle of wine. Nice round tannins, fruit and finish. I think this bottle has a few years to go. Great paired with a grilled t-bone. I love ridge..
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5/12/2013 - Tartiflette wrote: 91 Points
Still a very good glass of wine, but coming closer to it's end...Wonderful nose and rich, fruity taste. Almost no tanins left. Black berries- and currant, liquorice, tobacco, earth, acetone. medium aftertaste.
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4/27/2013 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 93 Points
Warm berry nose (raspberries, red currant) with sweet caramel and some anise. Very harmonious on palate with mellowed tannins and a medium body. Finishes elegant and very long. Brilliant example of a mature Ridge zinfandel blend, perhaps the best I've ever had (we drank the 2004 Ridge Geyserville afterwards which was also very good but not as balanced as the 1999 Lytton Springs).
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4/21/2013 - MichielV wrote: 92 Points
W roated chicken and spicey sauce. This was terrific wine. Gorgeous nose upon opening. Great nose in the glass, beautiful fresh color of reddish berries. Nose was very balanced. On palate this was a great combination of fruit, tannins, spice. Absolutely in very good spot now. Very good combination with the food. Great finsh of balanced wine. This will live for a few more years! Had the 2000 afterwards which was completely different, much more jammy fruity zin versus a balanced wine. Rudy visiting for dinner.
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4/13/2013 - Tartiflette wrote: 90 Points
No notes. Good but drink up. Almost no tannins left.
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1/27/2013 - hellowine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted at NoVA offline last night. Spicy & delicious.
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1/26/2013 - ericindc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fantastic zinfandel. Fresh, red fruited nose. Sweet red fruits, unctuous mouth coating middle, dusty tannins, with a slight dryness. Had a "delicious quality" that is hard to pinpoint.
Tasted at the DC/NOVA offline
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1/26/2013 - grayfont Likes this wine:
January 2013 CT Northern Virginia Off-Line "The Inaugural" (AngryPrez's home, Falls Church VA): Bright red fruit and no evidence at all that this had 14 years of age. I generally don't "get" zinfandel but I actually liked this quite a bit - it had an effortless feel to it, whereas most zins feel to me like they are trying too hard.
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10/29/2012 - wondersofwine wrote: 92 Points
Paul Draper's notes say: "Over time, we have noted increased size and structure in the Lytton Springs; the '99 best exemplifies this phenomenon to date. Combined with slightly more petite sirah than usual, a a fair amount of---carignane, this is a great vintage from an exceptional vineyard. The wine's weight allowed us to use more new and one-year-old American oak for aging--without detracting from the intense, layered fruit." He goes on to compare it to the structure of the '74 which was long lived and still enjoyable in 2000 and says the '99 may be equally long lived.
14.5% alcohol by volume. 70% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, and 3% Mataro. Deep inky purple; nearly opaque. Viscous. Tantalizing perfume wrapped around blackberries, black currants/cassis and what seems to be a remnant of some of that new oak used in the youth and adolescence of this wine contributing a cedar wood note. Full-bodied, full-throttled wine with long finish. As impressive now as I found Lytton Springs to be three or more decades ago. Remarkably, the price has remained fairly steady. I say hallelujah to that!
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7/17/2012 - coremill wrote: 89 Points
PnP. Too young. Good sweet brambly dark berry fruit and plenty of american oak, with quite a bit of structure and very nice acidity for a zin. It shows just a bit of heat on the finish and the oak isn't fully integrated yet. It's still pretty good now but I think it needs more time to fully come together.
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5/19/2012 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
Plump, ripe fruit, bright acidity, great presence and texture. Typical sweet strawberry fruit with a touch of oak, just classic.
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3/11/2012 - veniceslug1 wrote: 93 Points
Still drinking beautifully. Plenty of dark fruit and spice.
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2/4/2012 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Aging gracefully. Pepper, spice with just the right amount of jammy, hedonistic fruit. Ridge has that secret ingredient that most zins are missing to make it to 13 years old.
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12/5/2011 - BoulderWine wrote: 95 Points
Cork was incredibly clean (no seepage). First thing noticed was the dark color. Rich, mature aromas. Big fruit, not pruney, and well-resolved. Simply delicious for a 12-year-old Zin. Drank very well on its own as an aperitif.
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11/24/2011 - typ993 wrote: 92 Points
Like drinking blackberry jam with a hint of tannins
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11/23/2011 - bamawine wrote: 93 Points
terrific nose of burnt orange-would have guessed brunello if tasted blind- smooth,sweet texture and medium weight-a pleasure to drink now or within a year
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11/21/2011 - Papies wrote: 87 Points
Ridge Monte Bello 1994-2000 Vertical with Eric Baugher (Handford Wines, London): Sweet core, some apricot notes too. Good concentration. Average finish with some sweet stewed fruit. At least it didn’t feel confectionary (or fake) like young versions of Lytton Sprngs.
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8/7/2011 - MichielV wrote: 90 Points
Had it next to the 97 with flanksteak. This was much bettter. Great Zin nose of dark berries, herbs and pepper, good darkish color and on the palate great elegance, not super but very interesting and clearly showing that the Lytton Springs wines need age on them. They are OK young but just are rounder and more interesting after 5+ years in bottle. I was disappointed with the 97
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5/2/2011 - Yamadori wrote: 90 Points
Opened and left to slow-ox for a couple of hours. Nice zinfandel nose of bramble and spice. Boysenberry and plum fruit with some anise and pepper on the palate. Nicely balanced with good acidity and some secondary notes of smoke, spice and forest floor. Medium plus finish with integrated tannins. Still going strong and should continue to drink well for a few more years. Excellent zinfandel blend.
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3/26/2011 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
Ridge: Spicy, sexy, and complex. Great berry fruit, licorice, with herbs and menthol emerging. Almost ideal aged Ridge. Wow.
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3/24/2011 - robmatic wrote: 93 Points
This bottle was right on, and 93% mature. I think it might get a little better in another year or two, but certainly great to drink right now. Spicy meat, olive, potent fruit, and very good structure, ever the slightest bit tannic still. Overall impression is one of power and finesse.
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3/3/2011 - Vandiner wrote: 92 Points
Drank with Wine Boys on a great night of Zins
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2/4/2011 - chayward wrote: 91 Points
Zinfandel tasting (non-blind): Very nice bottle. Very different from the Wellington zins it was tasted with, mainly because of the somewhat funky nose. More complex. Still has strong tannins and a long finish. Would be really interesting to see how this is after some more time. 90-91
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1/3/2011 - jmacd Likes this wine: 93 Points
It seemed a little sweet and simple at first, but opened up beautifully after half and hour. A cornucopia of dried fruits and nuts with no hard edges great length. Now reaching its peak, but should last for another decade, I would think.
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10/16/2010 - MatsJohan wrote: 89 Points
Fin fylde balanse,
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9/26/2010 - yhn wrote: 91 Points
Nose- deep black currant with a touch of tobacco.
Sweet boysenberry with dark dusty notes, nutmeg. Nice interplay of clean youthful fruit, spice and maturity.
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6/21/2010 - vinolovers wrote: 95 Points
Opened about an hour before serving, but did not decant. The color was squid ink dark with no bricking on the rim. A big, briery wine where the tannins have receded leaving flavors of blackberry, pepper, licorice and slate that lingers on the finish. It reminded me of an middle aged ChDP amd paired wonderfully with the smoky charred flavors of the baby back ribs that accompanied it for dinner. (The label says 70% zinfandel, 17% petite syrah, 10% carignane and 3% mataro). A wine in its prime but with several years of life remaining.
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5/19/2010 - suttonri wrote: 91 Points
Now refined rather than powerful. Fading and even bricking on the rim. Elegant and feminine bramble fruit, resolved tannins, pepper, and a cocoa finish. Mature but by no means downhill.
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3/10/2010 - theprofessor wrote: 92 Points
Balance, cherry flavors. Excellent nose.
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1/14/2010 - jlgnml wrote: 92 Points
Great fruit and spicy nose of currant and pepper. Wonderful in the glass and a real keeper.
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1/3/2010 - winelovr2001 wrote: 94 Points
Really showing nice at 10yrs old. Almost bordeaux like in its structure showing black currant, bramble, and licorice framed in well integrated tannins and nice acidity. A really great wine.
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1/1/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Dark purple in color with nice jammy black fruit on the nose. medium to full bodied in the mouth. Plum and dark fruit flavors with a little spice. Nice acidity gives this wine a really nice mouthfeel. Lengthy finish. Excellent wine which is not really showing any signs of decline. Should last several more years.
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11/30/2009 - ianinvirginia wrote: 92 Points
Seemed a bit harsh off the pop and pour, so decanted. At 30 minutes a bit of the acidity began to mellow. Full bodied, plummy mouth, big notes of cloves and tobacco, spicy, long finish. Plenty of fruit left after 24 hours of decant.
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10/11/2009 - KDC2708 wrote: 92 Points
outstanding, rich, plum, good alcohol. a true beauty !!
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8/12/2009 - rwatkin wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine...nice core of fruit balanced by moderate acidity. This tasted awfully good!!
I had a nice nose and mid-palate of plum and red fruits. Still drinking well...should go another 3-4 years but there is no reason to wait!
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3/12/2009 - JScott wrote:
Very dark color, but almost nothing on the nose or palate. Not overtly corked. Appears too young for death.....odd.
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1/17/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: flawed
Corked
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11/30/2008 - pea wrote: 92 Points
Very dark, red color. Powerful, complex nose with spicy ripe sweet berries. Full bodied with luscious fruit and velvety tannins. Long generous aftertaste. Has reached its plateau. With this amount of fruit it will hopefully last for two to four years.
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11/25/2008 - SimonG wrote:
Lytton Springs Offline (RJs, London): Darker, fuller colour than 98. More briary black fruit. Lovely and needs time. ***(*)
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11/4/2008 - bon vivant wrote: 91 Points
Took to Rob on election night -color still dark ruby and there is some nice dark fruit and mint & cedar notes. Smooth and surprisingly young for it's age. Some coffee notes and a sweeter core came out after some time. Good finish but rather linear as there is a slightly high level of acidity here which detracts a little from the wideness or the complexity of the finish
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10/5/2008 - twoamps wrote: 90 Points
held up well in cellar. Big old lytton springs. Good fruit, great spice and body
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10/1/2008 - jsebiri wrote: 90 Points
Magnum , very good bottle of wine , holding in very well not a thing wrong with this bottle 9+year old Zin plenty of fruit left cant see when this will start to head south happily think i have one more
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8/31/2008 - winemaker wrote: 92 Points
From Magnum-Absolutely gorgeous! Delicious and still tasting young.
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5/18/2008 - winefool wrote: 90 Points
ERI Pre-Auction Tasting (Union Leauge Club): Medium full red color. Odd zin nose of overripe jammy fruit. Decent on the palate but still a bit overwrought for my taste.
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5/18/2008 - Patrick wrote: 90 Points
A little murky and showing slight browning; blackberry, a little heat, and some cream on the nose; palate showing a tiny bit of heat, blacberry, raspberry, still evident tannin with good juicy acidity; long finish
Day 2: recorked and put back in cellar; showing a little less complexity than on the first day but it's developed a really silky texture that is very enjoyable in it's own right.
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4/16/2008 - Clemonster wrote: 92 Points
With chuck roast, braised chard and goat cheese pasta with spicy red sauce. Strong nose of fresh bay and fresh bread on opening. Nice zesty herbatious in the mouth -- will be great after decanting. An hour later this was great. Bay and eucalyptus with red fruit (cherries and strawberries) a full transition and a nice spicy finish. Great wine!
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4/10/2008 - Jack wrote: 92 Points
It amazes me that these still need a little air time to open up. It was good when opened but even better after an hour.
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4/3/2008 - pgordon62 wrote: 92 Points
Just delicious again. Drinks like a (good) 15 year ago Bordeaux. Full of plumy fruit, saddle leather, pencil lead and fennel. Full bodied with great texture. Fresh and alive on the finish. Amazing QPR.
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1/27/2008 - DaveF wrote: 92 Points
I should not have drank this - my last bottle. Still primary but gaining maturity. Anyone who thinks Zin can not age and develop needs to buy some Ridge.
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12/28/2007 - JAlbert wrote: 94 Points
WOTN at Xmas. Rich, deep and balanced.
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9/28/2007 - kris.h wrote: 93 Points
End of Summer BBQ (Seattle, WA): Deep red color. An open and expressive nose of leather, blackberry, and other dark fruits. The palate has fine well integrated tannins. Amazing balance. Smooth, seamless integrated finish. This wine is drinking amazingly well right now. Very elegant. There's lots of primary fruit but also refined and starting to show some notes of maturity.
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9/16/2007 - mjpaustin wrote:
Red violet color. Nose of ripe plums, dried fruits and a touch of American oak. On the palate this is warm and fairly ripe. The structure seems to be fading a bit, but there was still enough backbone to enjoy this wine on Day 2. The ripe aspects of this wine seem to be accentuated with age - it does not have quite the balance it had a few years ago.
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9/15/2007 - mplympton wrote:
n: dried plums, jamon, brown sugar, a bit warm, hi toned, a bit smoky, kirsch, vibrant, developing more blackberry aromas, really meaty, ferrous
m: floral, nice brightness, good richness of black fruit, anise, great texture, concentrated black fruit mixed with baking spices, long finish, really opens up after an hour or so... yummy
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8/19/2007 - PathDoc wrote:
Drank after getting home from Maple. Stellar zin, and even better second night.
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7/30/2007 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Similar to a Bordeaux from a ripe year - plum jam, cedar, damp earth, coffee grounds and a touch of browned butter. Smooth, silky texture. Powerful peppery finish with a kiss of tannin. At peak and good for the next 2-3 years.
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7/14/2007 - realale wrote:
Lytton at its best. Deep blackberry on the nose, with a touch oak, but it is quite subdued. Glossy in the mouth, with great intensity and length. Drinking absolutely beautifully now. It will certainly age, but I don't know that it will ever have better balance than this.
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7/8/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
I liked tjis surprisingly much. Despite 70% Zindandel, the 20% Petite Syrah and Mourvedre (Mataro) give this a very nice, grippy personality without being too fruit forward. Would I go out and buy this? Probably not, but I certainly enjoyed drinking it.
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6/26/2007 - sol wrote: 96 Points
The best Ridge I've had in a while (which is saying something, given that Ridge is practically our house wine...), this shoots out of the gate with an explosive nose of briar patch, cloves, oregano, and black cherries. This wine is right at that point where fruit is still quite forward but it has developed numerous secondary characteristics, becoming more exotic with leather, tobacco, and anise with some time in the glass. Minimal heat. The mouthfeel is seamless and the finish is LONG. After opening it, we read the back label, in which Paul Draper (who is not given to hyperbole) compared it to the legendary 1974. I'm glad I have some more. Terrific with sausage lasagna.
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2/25/2007 - JBVino wrote:
SMOOTH...this wine is fully integrated with all pieces acting together...wine is at a stage somewhere between young fruit driven and older cab-like...wine is quite good but lacks that defining element that if you like old zins I think it might have in another 5 or so years
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2/18/2007 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Tasted double blind at the February Blind Drunks tasting. Notes of dark fruit, mint and eucalyptus. Dark fruit flavors and sweet tannins.
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2/9/2007 - Fatty Cat wrote: 91 Points
Early Feb 2007: dark purple ink; intense spice aroma/flavor, especially cinnamon; full and fleshy on the palate.
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1/8/2007 - pgordon62 wrote: 92 Points
Better and more evolved than a bottle opened a week ago. A delicious nose of blackberry and plum jam, briary raspberry, damp earth, wild flowers and a hint of cedar. Smooth on the palate, with bright, refreshing red fruits and a touch of tar. A wonderful balance of acids and fruit on the finish. At peak. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
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12/31/2006 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Blackberry and plum jam. Starting to show nice leathery secondary notes. Nice structure and should be good over the next 4-5 years.
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12/25/2006 - mebydef wrote: 92 Points
This was lovely and moving into a tertiary level. Immediately, on the palate it was sweet, soft, subtle, and light, with complex aromas of currant, tobacco, and redwood. There was good medium ruby color. It was good to very good but not great.
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12/9/2006 - tmay wrote: 93 Points
Lush, smooth and balanced. Excellent.
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11/9/2006 - gregg g wrote:
17 vintages of Ridge Zinfandel, '67 & '78 Stony Hill & Dessert Wines (Campanile in Los Angeles, CA.): Upfront fruit of raspberry with a textbook brambly quality. Very Zinfandel like. Well structured and should go the distance in the cellar.
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10/14/2006 - sol wrote: 93 Points
Terrific stuff, probably at its peak, but should last 3-5 more years. Lots of fruit and spice, like a good zin should be, with enough acidty to stand up to a little spice.
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9/22/2006 - buckeye76 wrote: 89 Points
RASPBERRIES AND CHERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.
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8/9/2006 - 5laton wrote: 93 Points
This was the bomb. Still very young but just delicious. The best LS i've yet tasted in my relatively young Ridge career. Have one bottle left and that's not enough.
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6/4/2006 - Maine wine guy wrote: 92 Points
Exactly what a Lytton Springs should be. The benchmark for great zin. Great nose, boday and finish. This is the CP.
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5/11/2006 - sbwino wrote: 91 Points
Still tasting really nice! Classic Ridge Zin style, ripe cherries, soft tannins, some earth and pepper in the background. Blueberry, currants, spice. I did not detect any pruiniess or port like taste. Still fresh and lively fruits and acid.
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3/5/2006 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Lots of spritz upon opening. I thought it would be poured down the drain, but after a little while in the glass, the spritz blew off leaving very ripe fruit, a little pruney and port like. Almost too sweet - a bottle out of balance.
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1/4/2006 - Jack wrote: 94 Points
Lytton Springs just rarely disapoints and if it does it is usually because I drink one that is too young and needs a little time. 1st night this was great and night two is even better. Zin doesn't get more consistant and rarely much better than RLS.
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10/29/2005 - vinolovers wrote: 93 Points
The tannins are fading leaving a well knit, balanced zinfandel even if the alcohol content is a mind-bending 14.5%. Lots of dark color with flavors of blackberry, currants, leather and pepper. The finish lingered on the palate. A wonderful bottle
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9/22/2005 - ERoss wrote: 95 Points
An Evening of Lytton Springs (Chez Ross, Vernon, CT): Really singing this night, my WOTN and overall group winner. At first blush, some hot alchoholic notes on the nose, but that blew off to an intense mix of black currants, blueberries, smoke, and pepper. So rich on the mouth, defnitely the darkest and most brooding of the tasting. At least a decade of life left.
Group placement: 1/6.
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3/1/2005 - Patrick wrote: 90 Points
I have so few Ridge that cracking one always feels like a special occassion and afterwards I always wonder why I have so few Ridge; This was dark dark red but clear edged with that nice jewel tone; rich nose of bacon fat, raspberries, plums, and a high-toned sweetness that you only get at the end of a deep inhale; the nose is a little passive right out of the bottle/cellar; on the palate this is clearly well made with all the components to go years longer but initially a bit disjointed and tannic; long, pleasant finish; I suspect this will come together over the next few hours but right now it's still quite good...why don't I have more of this?
After leaving the remainder of the bottle corked on the counter for two nights I've come back to find this fully integrated, smooth and positively excellent; there is now a tiny bit of heat on the nose but otherwise a beautiful wine; don't be afraid to hold these for several more years or to decant
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9/9/2004 - RussW wrote:
Speaking of coming around, I just had the '99 last night and it has added a bunch of weight and Draper perfume in spades. There are some tannins from the petite but not enough to detract from the finish and this wine has years of life ahead. The best Ridge zin I have had in a long while and if only I had known this wine would blossom this way I would not be left with only one bottle. Folks said this would be awesome with a few years of rest but I had a difficult time believing it as this wine was very one dimensional and uninspiring upon release. Oh well, just one more reason why this addiction is so damn intriguing.
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9/1/2004 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 90 Points
Nice blackberry fruit & white pepper, plenty of structure a bit hot & sharp at times but very nice overall
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12/30/2003 - cybergod wrote: 91 Points
Really outstanding Zin. Drinking very well now. Might be best to drink up now, but will leave the last bottle in the cellar for a few more years to see what happens.
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10/8/2003 - chbeaumont wrote:
Opaque, nearly to rim; mulled fruit, morello cherries, earthy, malty; tannic, fruit drying out? unconvincing. 13?
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2/3/2003 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 88 Points
Dense & deep ruby, aromas of bright berry, blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry, sappey pine, sour cherry, blueberry, charred oak, b3, a3, t3, very fine tannic finish, dense core of fruit balanced by leather tartness, solid structure, day 2, more wood prevalent, dense but a tad bitter, still decent
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10/7/2002 - tendring wrote:
Wine Education Service - World Class - Ridge Vineyards: Dark blackcurrant.
Fairly closed nose.
A serious wine with complexity, will develop well.
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11/30/2001 - Oberhau wrote: 80 Points
Very good, complex, classic, smooth, long finish with oak
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11/2/2001 - stanoak wrote:
No note
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10/14/2001 - SadEdjo wrote:
rich damson & blackberry & hint of funk. well balanced.
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