2006 Ridge, Zinfandel Lytton Estate, Dry Creek Valley.
This wonderfully rustic and classic Ridge Zin is drinking at it’s peak right now, and if you have any I’d consider popping corks soon, not that it is done yet by any means, it should go on for another 3 plus years with a cool cellar, but it is just so good now why wait. A recent trip through the Russian River and Dry Creek ended as per normal for me at Ridge’s Lytton Springs, a great spot to see 100 Year Old vines and taste some of the most pure California expressions available, including this 2006 Ridge Lytton Estate (Not to be confused with the regular Lytton Springs bottling, this wine is only available through the Ridge wine club and or at their tasting rooms) that is a Zinfandel from hillside blocks and has about 16% Petite Sirah in the blend which gives tannin, color and a coca note to the traditional Zin fruit layers that show raspberry, black cherry, baked plum tart, briar, herb and cedar notes along with a certain amount of spice and a touch of soft oak. This wine still has it’s tannins, though they have shed their hard nature and the acidity is starting to fade away leaving a creamy feel without losing too much vibrancy. This rich has developed nicely in the few years since I last tried it and I had to buy a few bottles to drink myself, I think that tells of my personal endorsement of this Ridge classic.
($34 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
