Ridge "Lytton Springs" Zinfandel 2021 375 mL (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California) - [VM 95+] [WS 93]

Ridge "Lytton Springs" Zinfandel 2021 375 mL
(Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California) - [VM 95+] [WS 93]


$36.00 $26.99 Save $9.01
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VM95+ WS93
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Notes from the Winemaker:

In 1972, Ridge made its first Lytton Springs from vines planted on the eastern half of the vineyard at the turn of the century. Both the eastern and western portions of the vineyard were purchased in the early 1990s, (In the 1870s, under “Captain” William Litton’s ownership, the two were part of one property; the spelling evolved to “Lytton” by 1903.) The vineyard is planted to zinfandel and its principal complementary varieties.

Tasting Notes:
Nose of red and black raspberry, white pepper, fennel, sage, dark chocolate and sarsaparilla. Full bodied with notes of blackberry and ripe plum; juicy acidity, excellent midpalate weight and a lengthy finish. 

Vintage:
A dry winter left the vines struggling to find water. This reduced fruit set in all varietals, especially zinfandel. Thirty-eight parcels were harvested from September first to October fifth and fermented separately. Thirty-four were selected, including vines planted in 1901 and eighty-year-old counoise inter-planted with cinsaut. Enjoyable now, this beautiful, complex wine will continue to develop over the next ten years and beyond.

Winemaking:

72% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Cinsaut, 1% Counoise

Vineyard: Lytton Springs

Appellation: Dry Creek Valley

Alcohol By Volume: 14.3%

Harvest Dates: 1 September – 5 October
Grapes: Average Brix 24.7˚
TA: 5.90 g/L
pH: 3.58
Fermentation: Full crush; 100 natural primary and secondary.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (17% new, 3% one year old, 10% two years old, 10% there years old and 65% three and four years old).
Aging: Sixteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested, organically grown, estate grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 65.3 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Ratings & Reviews

95+ Points – Vinous Media:
"The 2021 Lytton Springs is fabulous. Bright and vibrant to its core, the 2021 impresses with its poise. Readers will find a Lytton Springs that is very much in reserve, as opposed to the rest of the 2021s in this report, all of which are more approachable. Salivating acids and veins of tannin lend shape and persistence, but the 2021 needs time. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, rose petal and sage are some of the notes that linger on the close." – AG (Nov 2023)

93 Points – Wine Spectator:
"Robust and rustic, yet retains a sense of style, with deep blackberry, savory anise and black pepper flavors that gather tension and structure toward broad-shouldered tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet, Cinsault and Counoise. Best from 2025 through 2033.” – Tim Fish (Jan 2024)