Ridge Zinfandel Blend Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs 2010

2010 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Dry Creek Zinfandel - USA - Region: California - Apellation: Sonoma - Zinfandel - 750 ml

Ridge 06 Zinfandel Lytton Springs After long, hard rains in March, budbreak came by mid-April. In late July, extreme temperatures sunburned the west-facing blocks. These are planted predominantly to petite sirah, which took the highest loss. Veraison was late, and light rains further slowed maturation. We thinned the damaged clusters, and harvested the remaining fruit, fully ripe, between mid-September and mid-October. As tannin developed, we reduced pumpovers, and pressed at dryness on day nine. After a natural malolactic, twenty of the thirty-four blocks were selected for the 2006. This classic Lytton Springs was barrel aged for a full fifteen months. Approachable now, it has the structure to be cellared and enjoyed over the next ten years. JO (1/08) Tasting Notes - July 2008 Nose: Intense black cherry, mint, vanilla, chapparal, pepper, tar and mineral notes. Palate: Sweet raspberry, plums, full, great depth with very elegant tannins, approachable but will soften and open up even more with age.

Bright spice drives through the complex dark fruit of this old-vine blend, which includes petite sirah (16 percent) and carignane (4). There's some funk to it that reads like Brett, but it hasn't taken over the wine. The zesty acidity makes it more versatile than most zins, especially with roast turkey or duck with cherries.

An unusual vintage of Lytton Springs, this has a distinctive coolness to the fruit, partly expressed as a foresty flavor, and partly in a refreshing edge that recalls kiwi or peach. Peppery and purely zin, this would be delicious with the teriyaki ribs at Oolah in San Francisco.

Starts out with an earthy, gamy, leathery character, then pulls itself together, offering ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit to complement the earthy components. Drink now through 2007.

A vineyard blend that included 16% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignane, 4% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet. Meaty, funky and ripe, with intense fruit, lots of earthy, barnyard accents, and a long, tannic finish. This is old style Zin, no holds barred, with full-throttle flavors for aficionados.

Balanced, rich and dramatic, this is another successful vintage for a wine that defines Sonoma Zin at its ripe, spicy best. Succulent in the mouth, brimming with black raspberry, cherry and black pepper flavors. Finishes dry and with great length, an extraordinary Zin from a great vineyard and producer.