Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2012 Ridge Lytton Springs – Bottle Notes

The 2012 Ridge Lytton Springs was the winning bottle in the October Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. This bottle was decanted for one hour and served with steaks.

Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1959 when three Stanford Research Institute engineers bought an abandoned winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vineyards had been planted in the late 19th century by a San Francisco physician who produced his first vintage in the original winery, called Monte Bello, in 1892. The first Ridge vintage was in 1962. Paul Draper recently retired and John Olney is making the wines at Lytton Springs. Ridge makes Cabernet, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Rhone style wines.

When I first became interested in Zinfandel the buzz was always around the Three R’s of Zinfandel: Ravenswood, Rosenblum and Ridge. 25 years later Ridge is still at the top of its game, turning out single vineyard Zinfandel from some of California’s most precious vineyards.

Lytton Springs Vineyard dates back to the early 1900’s and is located in the Dry Creek Valley. The ’12 Lytton Springs in a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignane and 3% Mataro.

Dark crimson in color. 14.4% ABV. Pretty nose of brambly red fruits, licorice, vanilla beans and pepper. Medium body with ample acidity. Rich, elegant, Claret style Zinfandel. Bright, fresh and balanced. Raspberry, blackberry, earth and minerals on the palate. The finish is gorgeous and bodes well for the future. Such a unique expression of Zinfandel. Drink over the next 5-7 years.

My rating:  93 points.

Current vintages of the Ridge Lytton Springs including the 2013 and 2014 can be found at retail and will cost right around $35. This is a wine that I buy year in and year out.

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