2014 Ridge Vineyards, Lytton Springs, Proprietary Red, Dry Creek Valley.
The stylish and sophisticated 2014 Lytton Springs has an almost subtle appeal in it’s youthful stage, but with classic Zinfandel charm and detail, this is glorious stuff with balance, life and length, one of the most impressive all around Lytton Springs I can remember! Of the latest set of Zinfandel based releases this one is the least flamboyant or overtly fruity by Ridge this vintage, though it it might just have the most going on and certainly it has everything it needs to have to please and age well, while the 2014 old vine Pagani Ranch has lavish extravagance and is a blockbuster now, they both will be great in a decades time, the 2014 Ridge Lytton Springs is less showy and billowing, though still wonderfully seductive and sensual on the palate with black raspberry, boysenberry, cherry and dusty plum fruits leading the way with anise, wild sage, mineral notes as well as cedar, pepper and baking spices. As it opens up the latest Lytton gives a dense mouth feel and lingers with currant, a touch of floral Dimension and red berry along with ripe tannins, a lift of acidity and creamy/smoky mocha. The 2014 Lytton Springs with 69% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignane and 2% Mourvedre (or Mataro as Ridge calls it) and comes in at a well judged 14.4% Alcohol, from old vines, some dated back to 1902, all added together makes for a historic and impressive showing, this is without question a great wine and a wine that has a real and honest sense of place, it has the allure, sex appeal and spice of a Chateauneuf-du-Page and structured form of a right bank Bordeaux! All the Ridge offerings are gorgeous this Fall, leading the way is 2013 Monte Bello, but the Zin blends from this 2014 vintage are stunning California stars, especially this Lytton Springs, as well as the mentioned Pagani, Ponzo and don’t forget the earlier released Geyserville, they all should drink fantastic for the next 10 to 15 years easy!
($36 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
