Description
Ridge Lytton Springs Red Blend
In 1962, Ridge Vineyards made its first Monte Bello, and two years later its first zinfandel. Since that time, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched.
At Ridge we call our approach to winemaking “pre-industrial”. We believe that for anyone attempting to make fine wine, modern additives and invasive processing limit true quality and do not allow the distinctive character of a fine vineyard to determine the character of the wine. Several years ago we began adding to our labels a list of actions and ingredients to demonstrate how little intervention is necessary to produce a fine, terroir-driven wine from distinctive fruit.
History
In 1972, Ridge made its first Lytton Springs from vines planted on the eastern half of the vineyard at the turn of the century. Both the eastern and western portions of the vineyard were purchased in the early 1990s, (In the 1870s, under “Captain” William Litton’s ownership, the two were part of one property; spelling evolved to “Lytton” by 1903.) The vineyard is planted to zinfandel and its principal complementary varieties.
Vintage Notes
A cold, rainy winter and a cool summer pushed the growing season back, slowing ripening. Harvest began on September 23 and finished on October 24. The twenty-eight parcels that produced the most typical Lytton Springs were combined and racked to barrel. Fine tannins, moderate ripeness and focused fruit are hallmarks of the vintage. This elegant wine is enjoyable now, and has the structure to evolve over the next ten years.
Growing Season
Rainfall: 64 inches (above average)
Bloom: End of June
Weather: Late and prolonged harvest due to consistently cool weather throughout the growing season.
Winemaking
Harvest Dates: 23 September – 24 October
Grapes: Average Brix 24.7˚
TA: 7.39 g/L
pH: 3.66
Fermentation: Full crush; 100% Natural primary and secondary.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (19% new, 3% one year old, 10% two years old, 10% three years old, and 58% five-plus years old).
Aging: Sixteen months in barrel
Hand-harvested, organically grown, estate grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; tartaric acid; oak from barrel aging; water; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 89 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.
2023 Vintage Wine Ratings:
98 Points – Virginie Boone, JebDunnuck.com
96 Points – Tom Lee, Zinfandel Chronicles
96 Points – Ana Carolina Quintela, Decanter.com
95 Points – Tim Fish, Wine Spectator – #3 on the Top 100 wines of 2025!
95 Points – Wilfred Wong, Wine.com
95 Points – Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com
95 Points – JamesSuckling.com
95 Points – Billy Norris, Vinous Media
94 Points – Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
Tasting Notes
Ridge Lytton Springs 2023 features a dark purple color. Nose of raspberry, pepper, licorice and a hint of vanilla. Black cherry and plum on the palate with supple tannins, minerality and present acidity. Long, layered finish with notes of garrigue and black tea.
Ridge Lytton Springs Red Blend Notes To Your Senses:
- APPEARANCE: Dark purple
- AROMA: Raspberry, pepper, licorice and a hint of vanilla and cedar
- TASTE: Black cherry and plum on the palate with supple tannins, minerality and present acidity
- FINISH: Long, layered finish with notes of garrigue and black tea
- ABV: 14.4%
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