Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs 2023 750ml

Product Info

94pts Wine Advocate
The 2023 Lytton Springs is a blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro that matured for 16 months in 19% new air-dried American oak. It’s especially elegant and expressive this year, offering pure aromas of black cherry, blueberry, damp earth, sage, violet and cast iron. The full-bodied palate features concentrated, fragrant flavors. It’s framed by fine, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long finish replete with soaring floral perfume. It should be long lived in the cellar. Drink Date: 2028 – 2043 Published: Sep 25, 2025 Reviewed by: Erin Brooks

Terroir
Lytton Springs is sourced from Ridge’s historic vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, a site long recognized as one of California’s greatest terroirs for old-vine Zinfandel-based field blends. The vineyard sits on a series of rolling benches composed of gravelly clay loam, mixed with layers of ancient river wash that provide excellent drainage and naturally limit vigor. Many of the vines—particularly the Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane—are over 100 years old, dry-farmed, and head-trained, yielding small berries of extraordinary concentration. The 2023 growing season was mild and evenly paced, with cool nights and warm but not extreme daytime temperatures. This allowed for extended hang time, producing fruit with exceptional freshness, deep color, and vivid aromatics while maintaining the site’s hallmark mineral tension.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
A true field blend typical of Ridge’s philosophy, the 2023 Lytton Springs is 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, and small amounts of Mataro and Alicante Bouschet. Each parcel is harvested and fermented separately using native yeasts to preserve vineyard character. Gentle extraction through limited pump-overs protects the purity of fruit and prevents over-firm tannins in this naturally structured wine. After fermentation, the lots are aged for roughly 14 months in 100% American oak barrels, mostly second-use and seasoned, with a small percentage of new oak for added texture and spice but without dominating the blend. Ridge’s signature transparency is evident—minimal intervention, no fining, and restrained sulfur—allowing the vineyard to speak clearly. Typical alcohol rests around 14.4%, balanced by natural acidity and firm tannin.

Tasting Notes
The 2023 Lytton Springs opens with vibrant, lifted aromas of black raspberry, boysenberry, plum skin, and dried cherry, underpinned by savory notes of black pepper, sage, licorice, and crushed stone. Petite Sirah adds depth and a darker, graphite-tinged dimension, while Carignane brings bright acidity and herbal freshness. On the palate, the wine is intense yet graceful, offering layered flavors of blueberry compote, wild blackberry, pomegranate, and dark cocoa framed by fine, powerful tannins. There’s a beautiful interplay between richness and energy—fruit concentration balanced by nerve, spice, and a subtle rustic edge that makes Lytton Springs so distinctive. The finish is long, structured, and resonant, echoing notes of violet, black tea, and warm earth, with a lingering mineral brightness that promises superb aging.

Food Pairing & Service
Serve at 60–65 °F (16–18 °C) and consider a 45–60 minute decant if enjoying young, particularly to soften the Petite Sirah tannins. Lytton Springs shines with robust, savory dishes: grilled ribeye, herb-crusted lamb chops, smoked pork shoulder, or Tuscan-style sausages with white beans. For something rustic, try roasted eggplant with cumin and paprika, wild mushroom ragù, or aged pecorino. The wine’s earthy spice also complements braised short ribs, Moroccan lamb stew, or BBQ with dry rub. Drink now for its fruit vibrancy, or cellar 10–15+ years to reveal deeper tertiary notes of leather, dried herbs, and warm spice.