Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2006

• Light & Fruity: Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.
• Smooth & Supple: Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.
• Earthy & Spicy: Wines where earthy and/or spicy dominate the flavors – typically medium to full body.
• Big & Bold: Full bodied wines that have concentrated fruit and are higher in alcohol and/or tannins. Some need age.

A blend of 80% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Syrah and 4% Carignane.

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.

Bright spice drives through the complex dark fruit of this old-vine blend, which includes Petite Syrah (16%) 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." 91 Points
Wine & Spirits
February 2009