WTN: '02 Ridge Lytton Springs

Since y'all have been talking about Zin blends, I thought that I'd post my thoughts on this wine:

2002 Ridge Lytton Springs
nose: initially, soy sauce and butterscotch over plummy fruit, turning fresher and more berry-ish with time
palate: initially, a bit glossy and soft, but becoming more structured and focused with time; by the end, firm acids and vivid berry fruit

Once again, my initial fears about recent Ridge wines are allayed with time. Yes, this initially seemed a bit oaky and stewed but the wine became fresher and fresher the more time it sat open. Paul Draper suggested 10 years of improvement in '03 so I'll leave my remaining bottle for another few years to see how it develops.

Mark Lipton

[David M. Bueker]

People have been worrying about how oaky Ridge wines have become since I started buying them ('93 vintage). Then, after 8-10 years everything gets back to normal.

Then, after 8-10 years everything gets back to normal.

I agree 100%. I think the difference between a young Geyserville or Lytton vs. one with ten years of bottle age is extraordinary.

I quite liked this a couple years ago. One left, now to drink or hold....

People have been worrying about how oaky Ridge wines have become since I started buying them ('93 vintage). Then, after 8-10 years everything gets back to normal.

David,
I've been buying Ridge wines since the '81 vintage, and I do notice (on those rare occasions when I drink one young) a decided uptick in the new oak flavors in Geyserville and, to a lesser extent, in the Lytton Springs. I don't drink enough Monte Bello, young or old, to have an opinion, but those who do have stated a noticeable stylistic shift since the regime change at Ridge. Time wounds all heels, though, and older LS and Geezer seem to adhere to earlier models, so your second statement I definitely agree with.

Mark Lipton

since the regime change at Ridge.

What regime change? Paul Draper is still in charge isn't he?

since the regime change at Ridge.

What regime change? Paul Draper is still in charge isn't he?

There has been no regime change at Ridge...at least on the production side. Guaranteed.
PaulDraper is still very much in charge of things at Ridge. He has been relinquishing more & more responsibilities
to JohnOlney/LS and EricBaugher/MB and DaveGates/vnyd operations; but he is still the ultimate decider of what comes
out under the Ridge label. They all sit down on a regular/weekly basis and taste the blends that Eric & John make for any
one wine (like LS or Geysrvle or Pagani). Or sometimes it will be which the next ATP to release. Or sometimes it will be to decide a library release and at what price. Often others, like Dave or MarkVernon will also sit in and offer up opinions.
Paul very much listens to the inputs from everybody, notes their comments...sometimes even the comments of any doofi from LosAlamos.!!! He is very collegial about it all, but he is the one that has the final say-so and seldom lets his decision be overriden.
That said...has there been a change in style of the Ridge Zins over the yrs?? I think there has been a gradual evolution over the last few yrs, probably most noticible from the '07 vintage onward. There seems to be less overt oak...less of the reknowned DraperPerfume. A bit more lushness of fruit but still pretty much the same structure. I think the individual Zins are more reflective of their vnyd sources and the vintage year. But I think the standard Zins are the best they've ever produced, though different from what they were back in the '70's. The ATP's?? I still struggle with those. But it's nice/reassuring to know that Ridge is not dogmatic in the winemaking style and is willing to change as need be. And I can assure the points don't influence their winemaking..though the marketing side of things is more than happy to use those #'s.
Tom

Tom,

Thanks! Of course since I'm just starting drinking Geyserville and LS's from 1999 and 2000 I have no experience with the style change starting in 2007. I'm now starting to understand why Daniel Rogov strongly disagreed with me on the expected life. Sounds like starting in 2007 they may be less age worthy.