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: 2018 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

2018 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

SKU #1494480 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark The 2018 Lytton Springs is a blend of 72% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane and 2% Mataro. The nose is lush and open, with aromas of aniseed, red and blue berries, blood orange and earth plus touches of tobacco leaf and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate combines intense, powerful flavors with a more ethereal, silty structure, and it finishes with loads of juicy layers. It's stunning straight from bottle but will have more to give with time in the cellar. (EB) Inner quote mark (2/2021)

96 points Vinous

Outer quote mark The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up in the glass. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine its vibrant energy. Wow! (AG) Inner quote mark (9/2020)

94 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark This well-balanced 72% Zinfandel blend is a classic. Concentrated in flavor and firm in structure, it is also silky in texture and so easy to sip and swallow. The nose is packed with hints of charcoal, black fruits and black pepper, while the palate boasts plump blackberry and tangy raspberry shaded by salt and pepper notes. *Cellar Selection* Inner quote mark (3/2021)

92 points Jeb Dunnuck

Outer quote mark Checking in as 72% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignan, and the rest Mourvèdre, the 2018 Lytton Springs has a more nuanced, complex style that builds nicely with time in the glass. Red plums, mulberries, flowery incense, cedar, and a kiss of chocolate all define the bouquet, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture (which is the hallmark of this vintage), and ample chalky minerality on the finish. Inner quote mark (8/2020)

K&L Notes

An icon from Ridge, Lytton Springs is synonymous with Ridge, and one of their most loved and longest-running wines—first released with the 1972 vintage. The 2018 has incredible purity and poise. The old vine intensity of fruit is coiled and polished into a very focused wine with obvious aging potential, precise balance, and poise. Put this in your cellar while you drink the Pagani. 2018 Lytton is a 20-plus-year wine, for sure. (Ryan Woodhouse K&L Wines Domestic Wine Buyer) Blend: 72% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane, 2% Mataro. Hand-harvested and sustainably grown.

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2018 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

Price: $34.95

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Product Reviews:

By: Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 3/14/2021 | Send Email

From the very first sips of 2018 Zinfandel I tasted, (I think Bedrock's releases were the first) I knew it was going to be a magical vintage for California's ancient vineyards, most of which were planted, at least in large part, to Zinfandel. The long, cool growing season, especially the lack of any major heat spikes around harvest time, allowed Zinfandel to mature beautifully without losing too much of the all-important acidity or succumbing to the prominent raisin-like character of over-ripeness. The result is fully ripe flavors with lovely freshness and vibrancy. If anyone has any doubts about the brilliance of this grape and its ability to match the other famous varietals of the world in terms of depth, complexity, structure, and longevity, the 2018 releases from Ridge (and some of their contemporaries) should put an end to those doubts for good. These wines are absolutely magical and among the finest bargains in the world of wine given the pedigree and quality they possess. For me, Lytton Springs is always a wine that has fantastic purity and poise. Lovely, high-toned aromas of rose petal, baking spice, bramble fruit, cherry tart, bergamot, bay leaf, dusty earth. Some darker elements of leather and scorched oak fold into the layers of deep red fruit. The acidity is the real driver of structure here. While the tannins are ripe and supple, the acidity gives lift and drive on the palate. So wonderfully exotic and expressive and yet focused and precise at the same time. Stunning wine that shouldn't be missed.

Top Value! Drink from 2021 to 2050

By: Steve Bearden | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 11/6/2020 | Send Email

As usual this is a wine of proportion and balance over sheer size and power. Baking spices, mixed berries, potpourri and dark currants blend seamlessly in the sleek body. This poised, elegant and very youthful Zin finishes long and dry.

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Additional Information:

Varietal:

Zinfandel

- The bid to name Zinfandel California's "State Varietal" may have failed, but this red wine grape, grown extensively in California since the mid-1800s, is grown in few other places in the world. Sadly, much of what's cultivated today is planted where it's too hot and flat. But when planted to well-drained, hillside vineyards that are warm but not too hot, like those in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley and Amador County in the Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel can produce wines with plenty of character. High in natural alcohol and tannin, grown carefully it can be rich and complex, with dark fruit berry fruit and peppery spice. The most known example of Zinfandel outside of California is Italy's Primitivo, which can be similar in style, but is often a bit lighter and less alcoholic than West Coast examples.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Sonoma County

- Second in fame only to Napa, this "other" valley offers just about every climate and topography imaginable. From its cool and fog-enshrouded coastal regions on the far west, to the sprawling Alexander Valley on the boarder of Napa and the many little dips and peaks in between, Sonoma has been a vital wine-grape-growing region since the mid 1800s. Important sub-AVAs include Chalk Hill (known for chardonnay and sauvignon blanc), Dry Creek Valley (where zin is king) Knights Valley (largely cabernet land), Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast (both celebrated pinot and chardonnay zones).