Just too much for me. Jam, so sweet and strong. Better once it was chilled down a little. Perhaps better in 2-3 years but not my sort of wine at all. Bought at a restaurant as it seemed v cheap on the list..
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Probably my favorite of the wines I receive from my Ridge Zin wine club. 79% Zin, 11% Petite Sirah, 10%Carignane. A little on the young side but really improved after 2+ hours open in the bottle. Very smooth and with rich, mouth filling flavors. Dark fruit, some vanilla, raspberry, black cherry, licorice. I need to decant my Ridge wines!
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Medium ruby - black plum, blueberry, liquorice - chocolate and coffee, some dried fruit - raisins or prunes. Dry, moderate acidity, very full bodied and tannic, high alcohol and pronounced flavours.
Comlex and warming, another favourite of the day
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Opened in a steakhouse, great wine for a steakhouse. Deep ruby in the glass. A bit of sweet fruit/oak on the nose, but the palate has that nice lift coming from the acidity that carries this wine beautifully. Tannins are tight at first, but soften significantly after 2 hours in the decanter. Still slightly young, but luckily you won't have to wait to long to crack this.
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So I set up a blind tasting of the 5 main reds from Ridge. The entry level Three Valleys, the Lytton Springs, the Geyserville, the Estate Cab and the legendary Monte Bello! I knew what I brought but I had everyone including me drink the wines blind and in no particular order. The order that ended up coming out was: 1:Geyserville 2:Monte Bello 3:Estate Cab 4:Three Valleys 5:Lytton Springs.
Here are the notes for the Lytton Springs: so on the nose I thought this was too jammy, too sweet and I felt like I wasn't gonna like this one. Kinda instantly thought this was the entry level wine. On the palate it didn't get better. Jammy, sweet, I did enjoy a rhubarb strawberry pie note but other than that, this was my least favorite. Others at the table did enjoy it tho. So this is more of a matter of preference I guess
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Blueberries, oak, vanilla, coffee, herbs, licorice. Pronounced acidity and slightly aggressive tannins. Still, quite complex for a Zinfandel with a long finish, and it's evident that it's a high-quality wine. It probably needs a few more years in the cellar to reach its full potential because currently, it's a bit too intense.
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Deep ruby colour. Medium and developing nose with dark plum, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, sweet tobacco and vanilla. Medium taste of cassis, blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, vanilla, black pepper and leather. Long and dry finish. High acidity. Medium (+) tannins. Full body. A very good Californian Zinfandel that was the most juicy of the vertical. Drink now or over the next ten years. Goes well with beef, duck or pork.
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Zinfandel appreciation… and some - Ridge Vineyards tasting: 14.6% AbV; 79% Zin/ 11% Petite Sirah/ 10% Carignan; the Zin vines are quite old. aged for thirteen months in American wood (15% new, the rest from one to five seasons old).
this one is not quite ready for prime time yet, as it's fairly tight still.
dark ruby with purple overtones and nice body in the glass. when the whiffs of alcohol dissipate, the red and black fruits aromas emerge, ripe and full, with a few woody and herbal accents. in the mouth the flavours are concentrated and powerful, as are the tannins. hints of layers come thru with time and carry on to a very long, very complex, and enigmatically teasing finish.
i'd give this at least two or three years to integrate a bit more.
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By the glass. Only 77% Zinfandel grape complemented with petit sirah y carignane. Deep vanilla on the nose accompanied by notes of anise, toasted and red fruits. Palate has a great body, balanced and not without depth. Made in the old way, when varietals did not matter so much. Recommended.
Por copas. Sólo un 77% de uva Zinfandel complementado con petit sirah y carignane. Vainilla profunda en nariz acompañada por notas de anís, tostados y frutas rojas. Al paladar tiene un gran cuerpo, equilibrada y no exenta de profundidad. Elaborada a la antigua, cuando no importaban tanto los varietales. Recomendado.
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Lagring Vinet lagras i 13 månader på 100% amerikanska ekfat, varav 15% ny ek, 15% ett år gamla, 20% två år gamla, 20% tre år gamla, 15% fyra år gamla, and 15% fem år gamla. Passar till Lamm, nötkött och mustiga grytor.
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PnP. Color is ruby. On the nose: Blackberries, red berries, bit of plum and vanilla. On the palate: Plum, blackberries , mixed red berries, vanilla, cola and baking spices. It’s young , could use a few years but this is very tasty. It’s also elegant which is a common note for me on Ridge’s better Zinfandel’s (Lytton Springs and Geyserville esp.) and also why I see on some of Europes better wine lists.
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First of 4 half bottles purchased this summer at the Monte Bello winery. Gave it 2 hours in a decanter which is essential for such a young Lytton. Very tight, with white pepper and blue fruits wafting from the glass. Beautiful acidic core with significant tannic structure provided by the petite sirah. Plums, blueberries and raspberries on the palate. Spicy and tart and lively and oh so young. A great Lytton which will reach full maturity at the 10 year mark. Very well done.
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Monte Bello Visit: Compared to the 20 Ponzo which preceded it - deeper colour, more obvious oak (both on the nose and on the palate). Clearly the better wine but not as much fun today.
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Ridge Monte Bello with Leon (Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz, CA): Medium ruby. Field blend. 14.6% Deep ripe fruit. Kinda like petit sirah. Slight damp dark earth. Grapey. More dark fruit than the ponzo zin. Medium plus body, medium plus tannins (plush). Feels like a little oak impression - slight toast/gingerbread on the finish. American oak. Mostly used.
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Medium-dark garnet in color. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with briary overtones, spices, sage, dark cocoa, pepper, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, plummy/jammy, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & blueberries with spices, herbs, minerals, licorice, dark cocoa & a slight hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing (90+ minutes) but has the fruit & structure to continue development with additional aging. A blend of 79% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah & 10% Carignane; Alc. 14.6%
Quick Visit to Ridge Lytton Springs (Healdsburg, California): Light red center. Brambly, herbal nose. Lighter weight, elegant earthy feel, tart cherry fruit, and significant tannin. In the end, it is too lean and too tart. The balance and flesh are not there.
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Medium garnet red color. Moderate nose of strawberry, raspberry and cream soda. The first thought when tasting this wine was smooth. Smooth texture, well balanced, noticeable, refined tannins and subtle red fruit flavors. This is a young wine and given my history of predicting the future of Lytton Springs wines, I hesitate to rate the wine higher. It could age into something special. We will have to wait and see.
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5/8/2024 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 91 Points
My fav from the wines I receive from the Ridge Zin club. Dark berries of dark fruit, raspberry, licorice , bramble
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4/5/2024 - FoMoCo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. This is always one our favorite Ridge Zins.
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3/27/2024 - Kmarzec wrote: 91 Points
Definitely got better an hour after it was opened. Decant or let it sit a little before drinking. You will not regret it.
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1/31/2024 - yorkch wrote: 87 Points
Just too much for me. Jam, so sweet and strong. Better once it was chilled down a little. Perhaps better in 2-3 years but not my sort of wine at all. Bought at a restaurant as it seemed v cheap on the list..
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1/31/2024 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Probably my favorite of the wines I receive from my Ridge Zin wine club. 79% Zin, 11% Petite Sirah, 10%Carignane. A little on the young side but really improved after 2+ hours open in the bottle. Very smooth and with rich, mouth filling flavors. Dark fruit, some vanilla, raspberry, black cherry, licorice. I need to decant my Ridge wines!
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1/10/2024 - mikey.s wrote: 93 Points
WSET L2 - Sessions 1/2
Medium ruby - black plum, blueberry, liquorice - chocolate and coffee, some dried fruit - raisins or prunes. Dry, moderate acidity, very full bodied and tannic, high alcohol and pronounced flavours.
Comlex and warming, another favourite of the day
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10/4/2023 - grapenomad wrote: 91 Points
Opened in a steakhouse, great wine for a steakhouse. Deep ruby in the glass. A bit of sweet fruit/oak on the nose, but the palate has that nice lift coming from the acidity that carries this wine beautifully. Tannins are tight at first, but soften significantly after 2 hours in the decanter. Still slightly young, but luckily you won't have to wait to long to crack this.
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9/10/2023 - DevenStephens wrote: 88 Points
Ridge Blind Tasting; 9/9/2023-9/10/2023: Ridge blind tasting!
So I set up a blind tasting of the 5 main reds from Ridge. The entry level Three Valleys, the Lytton Springs, the Geyserville, the Estate Cab and the legendary Monte Bello! I knew what I brought but I had everyone including me drink the wines blind and in no particular order. The order that ended up coming out was:
1:Geyserville
2:Monte Bello
3:Estate Cab
4:Three Valleys
5:Lytton Springs.
Here are the notes for the Lytton Springs: so on the nose I thought this was too jammy, too sweet and I felt like I wasn't gonna like this one. Kinda instantly thought this was the entry level wine. On the palate it didn't get better. Jammy, sweet, I did enjoy a rhubarb strawberry pie note but other than that, this was my least favorite. Others at the table did enjoy it tho. So this is more of a matter of preference I guess
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9/9/2023 - Ticker tape guy Likes this wine: 89 Points
smooth tannins medium body cherry plum some some..nice with beef
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7/21/2023 - Ennels Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blueberries, oak, vanilla, coffee, herbs, licorice. Pronounced acidity and slightly aggressive tannins. Still, quite complex for a Zinfandel with a long finish, and it's evident that it's a high-quality wine. It probably needs a few more years in the cellar to reach its full potential because currently, it's a bit too intense.
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5/6/2023 - Agoston Haraszthy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Super jammy with bright red fruit on the nose. The palate is much different though with tobacco, cedar, and briary notes. Strong tannins
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3/26/2023 - Ticker tape guy Likes this wine: 90 Points
tight at first let sit for a couple of hrs opened up with dark fruit hint of chocolate and a nice finish
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3/17/2023 - SuperSomm wrote:
Deep ruby colour. Medium and developing nose with dark plum, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, sweet tobacco and vanilla. Medium taste of cassis, blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, vanilla, black pepper and leather. Long and dry finish. High acidity. Medium (+) tannins. Full body. A very good Californian Zinfandel that was the most juicy of the vertical. Drink now or over the next ten years. Goes well with beef, duck or pork.
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3/10/2023 - WindFlyer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Zinfandel appreciation… and some - Ridge Vineyards tasting: 14.6% AbV; 79% Zin/ 11% Petite Sirah/ 10% Carignan; the Zin vines are quite old. aged for thirteen months in American wood (15% new, the rest from one to five seasons old).
this one is not quite ready for prime time yet, as it's fairly tight still.
dark ruby with purple overtones and nice body in the glass. when the whiffs of alcohol dissipate, the red and black fruits aromas emerge, ripe and full, with a few woody and herbal accents. in the mouth the flavours are concentrated and powerful, as are the tannins. hints of layers come thru with time and carry on to a very long, very complex, and enigmatically teasing finish.
i'd give this at least two or three years to integrate a bit more.
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3/10/2023 - josephkolinsky Likes this wine: 94 Points
Loved it!
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3/5/2023 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
By the glass. Only 77% Zinfandel grape complemented with petit sirah y carignane. Deep vanilla on the nose accompanied by notes of anise, toasted and red fruits. Palate has a great body, balanced and not without depth. Made in the old way, when varietals did not matter so much. Recommended.
Por copas. Sólo un 77% de uva Zinfandel complementado con petit sirah y carignane. Vainilla profunda en nariz acompañada por notas de anís, tostados y frutas rojas. Al paladar tiene un gran cuerpo, equilibrada y no exenta de profundidad. Elaborada a la antigua, cuando no importaban tanto los varietales. Recomendado.
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2/15/2023 - Triax wrote:
Lagring Vinet lagras i 13 månader på 100% amerikanska ekfat, varav 15% ny ek, 15% ett år gamla, 20% två år gamla, 20% tre år gamla, 15% fyra år gamla, and 15% fem år gamla.
Passar till Lamm, nötkött och mustiga grytor.
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1/23/2023 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. Color is ruby. On the nose: Blackberries, red berries, bit of plum and vanilla. On the palate: Plum, blackberries , mixed red berries, vanilla, cola and baking spices. It’s young , could use a few years but this is very tasty. It’s also elegant which is a common note for me on Ridge’s better Zinfandel’s (Lytton Springs and Geyserville esp.) and also why I see on some of Europes better wine lists.
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12/18/2022 - Ticker tape guy Likes this wine: 90 Points
nice red wine fine tannins bit of pepper dark fruits went well with baby bbq ribs
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12/4/2022 - markydecker Likes this wine: 92 Points
First of 4 half bottles purchased this summer at the Monte Bello winery. Gave it 2 hours in a decanter which is essential for such a young Lytton. Very tight, with white pepper and blue fruits wafting from the glass. Beautiful acidic core with significant tannic structure provided by the petite sirah. Plums, blueberries and raspberries on the palate. Spicy and tart and lively and oh so young. A great Lytton which will reach full maturity at the 10 year mark. Very well done.
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11/12/2022 - Ticker tape guy Likes this wine: 89 Points
started a little weak for a zin as it opened the body developed im sure with a little time this will be an excellent wine
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11/11/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Monte Bello Visit: Compared to the 20 Ponzo which preceded it - deeper colour, more obvious oak (both on the nose and on the palate). Clearly the better wine but not as much fun today.
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11/11/2022 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 88 Points
Ridge Monte Bello with Leon (Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz, CA): Medium ruby.
Field blend.
14.6%
Deep ripe fruit. Kinda like petit sirah. Slight damp dark earth. Grapey. More dark fruit than the ponzo zin.
Medium plus body, medium plus tannins (plush). Feels like a little oak impression - slight toast/gingerbread on the finish. American oak. Mostly used.
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9/10/2022 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium-dark garnet in color. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with briary overtones, spices, sage, dark cocoa, pepper, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, plummy/jammy, ripe dark fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & blueberries with spices, herbs, minerals, licorice, dark cocoa & a slight hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing (90+ minutes) but has the fruit & structure to continue development with additional aging. A blend of 79% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah & 10% Carignane; Alc. 14.6%
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9/9/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:
Quick Visit to Ridge Lytton Springs (Healdsburg, California): Light red center. Brambly, herbal nose. Lighter weight, elegant earthy feel, tart cherry fruit, and significant tannin. In the end, it is too lean and too tart. The balance and flesh are not there.
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7/6/2022 - Lee Fining Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium garnet red color. Moderate nose of strawberry, raspberry and cream soda. The first thought when tasting this wine was smooth. Smooth texture, well balanced, noticeable, refined tannins and subtle red fruit flavors. This is a young wine and given my history of predicting the future of Lytton Springs wines, I hesitate to rate the wine higher. It could age into something special. We will have to wait and see.
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5/16/2022 - der Schmecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb! Will get better with time. Tasted at Historical Vineyard Society dinner May 14, 2022 hosted by Ridge at Lytton Springs.
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