Nose of red and black raspberry, white pepper, fennel, sage, dark chocolate and sarsaparilla. Full bodied with notes of blackberry and ripe plum; juicy acidity, excellent midpalate weight and a lengthy finish.

In 1972, Ridge made its first Lytton Springs from vines planted on the eastern half of the vineyard at the turn of the century, and purchased both the eastern and western portions of the vineyard in the early 1990s, (In the 1870s, under 'Captain' William Litton's ownership, the two were part of one property; spelling evolved into 'Lytton' by 1903.) The vineyard is planted to Zinfandel and its principal complementary varietals.

Lytton Springs has become synonymous with classic Dry Creek Zinfandel. It shows potent, ripe boysenberry and blackberry, but also a pronounced rusticity and earthiness often attributed to its blending varietals; petite sirah and carignane. Acid and tannin are firm, yet not overwhelming; in youth, at least, fruit predominates. This balanced, powerful wine becomes more nuanced with age, and it often holds for more than a decade.

"A blend of 67% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignan and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Tasted from jeroboam. To be released in September 2024.
Dark purple. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, carob, green resinous herbs, mocha and a hint of oak. Juicy flavours of blackberry and liquorice mix with dried herbs, mulling spices, orange peel and black cherry. Great acidity. Lightly muscular, fine-grained tannins flex their muscles over time. Flavours of liquorice root and sawdust linger in the finish. Drink to 2045."
17.5+ points. Alder Yarrow, jancisrobinson.com (August 2024)

"The 2022 Lytton Springs 50th Anniversary is composed of 67% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignane and 3% Alicante Bouschet. It opens with initial touches of glossy new American oak—dill and toasted coconut—and gives way to kaleidoscopic black and red plums, cherries and berries, plus accents of hibiscus and potpourri. The full-bodied palate features generous, spicy flavors. It’s structured by abundant, powdery tannins and lively acidity and has a long, detailed finish. Winemaker Shauna Rosenblum says this 2022 was crafted using only American oak, a shift from the blend of French and American oak used in the past. It has resulted in a particularly pure, transparent expression that opens dramatically with air, and this 2022 Lytton Springs will benefit from several years in the cellar. Drink to 2045."
94 points. Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate (September 2024)