In Praise of Ridge

I've liked Ridge Zin and Petite Sirah wines for a long time. Visited the winery tasting rooms an three occasions. We don'tget a wide range of Ridge here in UK and they're expensive, so I tend to splurge when I'm in the US.

In past couple of weeks I've had three bottles, two 2012 Ridge Lytton Springs in Virginia in Ruth's Chris where at $95 it worked out at a little over double the UK retail price and was one of the few names I recognised on a large but very uninformative wine list. Delicous wines. (67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 3% Mourvedre)

And then back home on Sunday with roast chicken 2009 Ridge Zinfandel Lytton Estate. This wine was mostly Zin with some Petite Sirah and it was delightful with a wonderful spicines yetthe over impression was restrained and dare I say, delicate.

I'm not clear what is the difference between 'Springs' and Estate'.

I've liked Ridge Zin and Petite Sirah wines for a long time. Visited the winery tasting rooms an three occasions. We don'tget a wide range of Ridge here in UK and they're expensive, so I tend to splurge when I'm in the US.

In past couple of weeks I've had three bottles, two 2012 Ridge Lytton Springs in Virginia in Ruth's Chris where at $95 it worked out at a little over double the UK retail price and was one of the few names I recognised on a large but very uninformative wine list. Delicous wines. (67% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 3% Mourvedre)

And then back home on Sunday with roast chicken 2009 Ridge Zinfandel Lytton Estate. This wine was mostly Zin with some Petite Sirah and it was delightful with a wonderful spicines yetthe over impression was restrained and dare I say, delicate.

I'm not clear what is the difference between 'Springs' and Estate'.

Peter,
The "LyttonSprings" (trade-mark thingey attached) is their flagship wine they make ever year from that LyttonSprings
property, which is composed of LyttonEast (mostly old-vine Zin/PetiteSirah/Grenach) and LyttonWest (younger plantings).
The "LyttonEstate" designation they use on their ATP wines from that property, both East & West.
The two properties are about a km apart, separated by the famed Lytton Springs International Airport...the largest airfield
in the DryCreekVlly!!!
Tom

Thanks Tom

I noticed that the Estate had an ATP logo on the top of the capsule but no ATP signage on the label as I have seen previously so I thought it was a bottling error/using up old capsules.

I bought the Estate at the winery in 2012, which would explain how I acquired an ATP bottling

I just opened the 2012 Ridge East Bench Zin this week and while impressive, it wasn't as enjoyable as the 2013 Lytton which I recently had. Both the 2013 Lytton Springs and the Geyserville are on another level. Compared to the 100% Zin in the East Bench which was a bit heavy on oak and venturing more in the fruit bomb realm, the Geyserville and Lytton had way more personality and depth. I'm excited to see how they develop over the next couple years.

[David M. Bueker]

The few times I have tried the East Bench it has always seemed simple compared to the Lytton Springs and Geyserville.

+1 re what David said..Other than an occasional Ridge Pagani, I usually just stick with Ridge Lytton and the Geezer..Have found the East Bench bottlings to be underwhelming

[Jenise]

I just opened the 2012 Ridge East Bench Zin this week and while impressive, it wasn't as enjoyable as the 2013 Lytton which I recently had. Both the 2013 Lytton Springs and the Geyserville are on another level. Compared to the 100% Zin in the East Bench which was a bit heavy on oak and venturing more in the fruit bomb realm, the Geyserville and Lytton had way more personality and depth. I'm excited to see how they develop over the next couple years.

When I tasted the 12, I thought it the best LS I've had in years. What I've heard about the 13 suggests it's even better. Can't wait to get my hands on some.

[David M. Bueker]

So far the '13 Geyserville is delicious. Haven't picked up my Lytton yet.

Said it before and will say it again: the 13 LS is the best I have ever had!

Greetings from Sweden / Fredrik L

Ridge zins age fantastically well, too. I recently opened the '97 Lytton Springs and the '97 Geyserville side by side. The LS was perfectly mature, while the Geyserville still needs a few more years.