Tried this last night w/ leftover pasta:
1. Ridge Syrah LyttonEstate Calif (LyttonWestVnyd/DryCreekVlly; 89% Syrah/11% Viog; 14.9%; 43 brls; Bttld: Aug 2010; Drk: 6/10-6/18-6/22: EB) 2008: Very dark color; some toasty/vanilla/Am.oak/toasted coconut strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah classic Ridge/DraperPerfume some earthy/rustic nose; slightly tart strong vanilla/Am.oak/toasty/DP/toasted coconut strong blueberry/Syrah slight peppery/earthy/dusty rather rough/coarse flavor w/ some hard/firm/rough tannins; long strong Am.oak/vanilla/DP/toasty some blueberry/Syrah/blackberry bit peppery/earthy rather rough/coarse finish w/ hard/rough tannins; a bit short on Syrah fruit but strong on Ridge Am.oak and the structure for aging; almost more like PS than Syrah. $32.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This is a pretty classic Ridge Rhone and not very exciting in terms of a Calif Syrah. It speaks mostly of Ridge winemaking style and not much of classic Calif Syrah. It's on the rough side and has the structure to age into a very good old Ridge red. Not at all sure what the co-frmtd Viognier adds to the wine..not at all obvious.
The Ridge Rhones can be kinda underwhelming in their youth and not very Calif Rhone in character. But they can sometimes (not always) age into pretty interesting old wines. I've suggested any number of times that, afore a RhoneRangers tasting, that they assemble a bunch of Ridge fans and taste thru some of their older stocks of Ridge Rhones. I think it would be eye-opening for many folks.
I would also like to do a tasting side-by-side of Lytton Syrah vs. PetiteSirah. I think they'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two.
Tom