Ridge Lytton Springs Red Blend 2009

Professional Ratings

• 96 Connoisseurs' Guide
  This winery's mastery of Zinfandel is once again evident here, and, if showing the richness and depth that we anticipate from Lytton Springs bottlings, this wine is keenly composed and comes with a little more polish than usual. It is young, it is incisively fruity and it is well-filled, and it forgoes bombast and flashiness for structured precision and great ageability.
• 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2009 Lytton Springs is the biggest and most structured of these 2009 Zinfandel-based reds, largely owing to the earthier soils and the presence 23% Petite Sirah. Black fruit, plums, tar, licorice and smoke are some of the notes that flow from this generous, inviting red. The Lytton Springs is fairly structured, and can definitely benefit from another year or two (perhaps more) in bottle. The blend is 74% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah and 5% Carignane. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2029.
• 92 Wine & Spirits
  Johny Olney considers 2009 to be the best vintage from this historic vineyard since 2005. This release includes 23 percent petite sirah and six percent carignane, so it's not labeled as zinfandel. The blend balances tannic complexity from old-vine fruit with the richer, brighter notes of young-vine zin. The younger fruit fills out the texture without diminishing the tension and edginess of the wine. It's black, smoky and subtle, a red to decant now with grilled sirloin or to cellar for ten years.
• 90 Wine Spectator
  Briary and a bit untamed, but appealing for its cherry and dill aromas and well-structured wild berry, underbrush and cedar flavors. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carignane. Drink now through 2017.