New Releases from Ridge Vineyards
I have spent a lifetime exploring Ridge Vineyards. From the early 1970s, when I tasted their 1972 vintages, to their current releases: Ridge Lytton Springs 2022 and the Ridge Monte Bello 2021 Ridge Monte Bello, the wines continue to improve. Please join me as we walk together on their newest wines.
Trade/Media Luncheon at Ridge Lytton Springs (August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA)
My visit to Ridge Lytton Springs was my first tasting event. I have existed in seclusion as I recover from my cancer treatments at UCSF. I was tenuous about the two-hour drive to and from San Francisco and Healdsburg. Fortunately, all went well. We tasted eight wines and got the chance to taste what this property can produce.
· Ridge Lytton Springs Rose 2023. We were greeted with this wine, and it showed well! While rosé wines take many shades of aromas and flavors, the 2023 Ridge Lytton Estate is made from a single vineyard, expressing the season's best blend. This wine brings aromas and flavors of frisky strawberries, Queen Anne cherries, and fresh stone fruits front and center. Enjoy this with fragrant Thai Basil Pork over Rice topped with a well-fried egg. (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Score: 92 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $35.00
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· Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs 50th Anniversary Red Wine 2022. When I tasted the 1973 Lytton Springs Zinfandel upon its release in the early 1970s, I fell head over heels for wines made from these vineyards. The 2022 has re-kindled that feeling. All I can say is, "Wow!" This wine excels with aromas and flavors of beautiful mixed spices, dried flowers, and a bounty of berries. Serve this with a slow-cooked lamb stew, and see for yourself. (Best Served: 2024-2038) [SOURCING: USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley] [COMPOSITION: 67% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignane, 3% Alicante Bouchet] [TECHNICAL: 14.4% alcohol; 6.60g/L total acidity; 3.63pH] [WINEMAKING HIGHLIGHTS: Fermentation: Full Crush; 100% natural primary and secondary; Aging: Sixteen months in barrel] [John Olney, Head Winemaker & COO; Shauna Rosenblum, Lytton Springs Winemaker; Michael Bairdsmith, Assistant Winemaker] (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Score: 97 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $56.00
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· Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs Red Wine 2013. IThe 2013 Ridge Lytton Springs has developed well. This wine exhibits aromas and flavors that show some age notes, active stone fruits, and tart raspberries. Enjoy it with a garlic and rosemary-infused roast leg of lamb. (Best Served: 2019-2029) [SOURCING: USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley; Vineyard: Lytton Springs] [COMPOSITION: 74% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane, 2% Mataró (Mourvèdre)] [TECHNICAL: 14.3% alcohol] [WINEMAKING HIGHLIGHTS: Fermentation: Petite Sirah was whole berry fermented, all others full crush, 100% Natural primary and secondary; pressed at eight days; Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (20% new; 60% one, two and three years old; 30% four years old}. Aging: Fourteen months in barrel.] [John Olney, Winemaker] (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Score: 94 Points) Original Release Price: $38.00
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· Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs Red Wine 2009. The sturdy 2009 Ridge Lytton Springs has stood the test of time. This wine excels with aromas and flavors of black olives, savory earth, and demonstrative licorice. Set the table with it and a thick, medium-rare slab of prime rib. (Best Served: 2020-2030) [SOURCING: USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley; Vineyard: Lytton Springs] [COMPOSITION: 74% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignane] [TECHNICAL: 14.5% alcohol] (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Score: 95 Points) Original Release Price: $35.00
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· Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs Red Wine 1999. The 1999 Ridge Lytton Springs shows well after a quarter century. This wine displays aromas and flavors of complex aromas from its years in the bottle and a touch of anise. (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Score: 96 Points) Original Release Price: $30.00
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· Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs Zinfandel 1984. The 1984 Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel was one the most solid wines in its youth. It's time to put this down or drink it with aged cheeses (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Score: 90 Points) Suggested Retail: $17.00
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· Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Springs Zinfandel 1974. I cut my teeth on the 1972, 1973, and 1974 vintages of the Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel. While this wine shows its age, I enjoyed trying it again decades later. Serve this with an extra sharp New York White Cheddar. (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Rating: 95 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $NA
· Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Estate Syrah 1996. The 1996 Ridge Dry Creek Valley Estate Syrah is generous and rivals wine from the Northern Rhône Valley. This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of bold black fruits. Try this wine with a savory, old-fashioned beef stew. (Tasted: August 8, 2024, Healdsburg, CA) (My Score: 93 Points) Suggested Retail: $NA
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· Domaine Louis Latour Chambertin Grand Cru Cuvée Héritiers Latour 2020. This was such an intense wine showing blackcurrants and lasting boldness with a touch of oak and earth. (My Score: 95 Points) Suggested Retail Price: Not Available
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· Domaine Louis Latour Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quarte Journaux 2020. I never hesitate when I get a chance to taste wine from this incredible appellation, and this wine proved my instincts correct. It was bright, alluring, and complex. A compelling wine showing red and black fruits, earth, and chalkiness. One of my favorite wines of the afternoon by a long shot. (My Score: 97 Points) Suggested Retail Price: $650.00
I cannot deny that this was an afternoon delight of tasting and savoring some of the world’s finest wines. But most enjoyable was enjoying our friendships. There were no pretensions, just honest conversations about the wines amongst learned and experienced palates. We simply had a grand cru afternoon. Great to be with my pals and colleagues from Louis Latour and Wine.com.
Cheers, Wilfred
