Ridge Vineyards : Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Ridge Vineyards' Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2024

Tasting Notes

Appearance
A seductive, deep purple colour of great intensity.

Nose
Particularly expressive, it reveals superb aromas of freshly picked raspberry, intertwined with notes of black pepper, sage and liquorice, along with indulgent hints of dark chocolate.

Palate
The palate is generously dominated by flavours of plum and black cherry. The texture is built on beautifully supple tannins and an elegant minerality, leading to a persistent, complex finish with accents of spice, black tea and garrigue.

Food and Wine Pairing
This red wine pairs wonderfully with slow-cooked meats in sauce such as beef bourguignon, or herb-roasted meats like lamb chops. It will also beautifully complement duck breast or pork tenderloin stuffed with figs.

Serving and Cellaring
To fully appreciate the Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2024, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. With excellent ageing potential, this vintage can be cellared and enjoyed until around 2034.

The richness and structure of a great zinfandel from California's Dry Creek Valley

The Estate
The site's winemaking history dates back to 1885 on the heights of Monte Bello Ridge, but Ridge Vineyards was officially founded in 1962. Located in California, this historic estate truly took flight with the arrival of Paul Draper in 1969. Renowned worldwide for its artisanal, chemical-free approach centred on the pure expression of terroir, the estate stands out for its complete transparency on its labels. Now led by John Olney and owned by the Otsuka Pharmaceutical group since 1986, the estate remains an essential benchmark among great American wines.

The Vineyard
The grapes come from the Dry Creek Valley appellation, located in Sonoma County. The vines thrive at an altitude of around 120 metres, with their roots reaching into a terroir composed of clay and gravel soils. The estate practises certified organic farming, promoting biodiversity and soil health to get the very best from these historic parcels.

The Vintage
2024 was marked by generous rainfall. After a rather cool start to the season, temperatures became particularly warm from June onwards. A brief but intense heatwave in July accelerated ripening, leading to a condensed harvest that nonetheless produced beautifully balanced grapes.

Winemaking and Ageing
To craft the Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2024, the grapes are carefully destemmed and then crushed. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation occur entirely naturally, thanks to indigenous yeasts and bacteria. This American wine then undergoes an extended ageing period of 16 months in American oak barrels, 18% of which are new, to refine its structure.

Grape Varieties
78% Zinfandel
13% Petite Sirah
6% Carignan
2% Alicante Bouschet
1% Grenache