COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2021
GRAPE
Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet, Cinsaut, Counoise
PRODUCER
Ridge Vineyards
REGION
California
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
High
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
The 2021 Lytton Springs continues the legacy of Ridge Vineyards, which has been producing this iconic wine since 1972. Ridge Vineyards, a renowned producer in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, adheres to a philosophy of minimal intervention, utilizing native yeasts for fermentation and adding only minimum effective sulfur. The Lytton Springs vineyard itself is historic, with some of its estate-grown, organic vines dating back to 1901. The 2021 vintage was characterized by a dry winter, which naturally reduced yields and concentrated the fruit flavors, contributing to the wine's full-bodied and complex character. This distinctive red wine is a field blend, predominantly Zinfandel, showcasing the unique terroir and heritage of this celebrated Californian site.
ALCOHOL
14.3%
AVG. PRICE
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Ridge Vineyards has been producing Lytton Springs since 1972, making the 2021 vintage nearly its 50th.
Fact 02
Some of the Zinfandel vines in the Lytton Springs vineyard were planted over a century ago, in 1901.
Fact 03
The wine is a field blend, with 38 vineyard parcels harvested and fermented separately before blending.
Fact 04
Ridge Vineyards practices minimal intervention, using native yeasts and only minimum effective sulfur.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The 2021 growing season in Dry Creek Valley was marked by a dry winter with below-normal rainfall, which naturally stressed the vines and concentrated the flavors in the estate-grown, organic grapes. The hand-harvested grapes were destemmed and crushed before undergoing fermentation with native yeasts. A full natural malolactic fermentation followed. A meticulous process involved harvesting and fermenting thirty-eight individual parcels separately between September 1st and October 5th, with thirty-four of these parcels ultimately selected for the final blend. The wine was then aged for sixteen months in 100% air-dried American oak barrels. The oak composition was carefully managed, consisting of 17% new, 3% one-year-old, 10% two-years-old, 10% three-years-old, and 60% five-plus-years-old barrels.
