2016 Ridge Zinfandel Lytton Springs
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Tasting notes
A blend of 69% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignan and 2% Mataro. Medium to dark ruby with orange highlights. Not holding its colour as well as some other vintages, but don't let that fool you. Smells beautifully of dried herbs and flowers, with hints of meatiness. Fantastically bright and juicy flavours of dried citrus peel, plum skin and dried cherry mix with peach and faintly salty dashi notes that bring a wonderful umami character to the wine. Seamless, with faint wispy tannins that add only a tiny bit of texture. Dried and fresh herbs linger in the finish. Gorgeous. (AY)
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
69% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignan, 2% Mataro. Perfumed aromatics with a juicy palate. Lovely structural balance of abundant while supple tannins and mouth-watering acidity through a long finish. Notes of mixed fruits with an accent of pepper. Just a bit of heat on the finish. (ECB)
Another winner is the 2016 Lytton Springs, a Zinfandel-dominated blend that includes 23% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignan, and 2% Mourvèdre. This medium to full-bodied effort has wonderful purity of fruit as well as slightly more density in its black and blue fruits, earth, and dried spices. With bright acidity and ripe tannins, it will be better with another year or three of bottle age and keep for 15-20.
Candied fruit, overripe blackcurrant, loads of rich fruit here in a fruit-forward and typically juicy fashion. Dry, fine-grained finish. (RH)
About the producer
Best known for its iconic Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards makes some of California’s finest wines – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Long a pioneer of sustainable farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, Ridge makes an extensive range from Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.