Ridge Lytton Springs Red 2020 – 750ml Not specified

95pts James Suckling

This has lots of horizontal tannins that provide fine muscle and form. It’s medium- to full-bodied with freshness and brightness. Red berries, crushed cloves and other spices. Grapey, for a better word. Sophisticated. Chewy, Needs time to soften. Zinfandel with petite sirah and carignan.

95pts Decanter

Very juicy and chewy with mulberry and mocha notes. Paul Draper’s love of old California field blends and his belief that Petite Sirah and Carignane (which Ridge spells in the old California manner with an ‘e’ at the end) add a complementary intrigue to Zinfandel are at work in the Lytton Springs. Accordingly, the wine is not labelled Zinfandel even though at 79% Zin, it could be. The 10% Carignane adds an earthy, sensual, south-of-France character to the flavour. The Petite Sirah – which is never petite in California – adds power and a wallop of tannin. A very distinct wine, mostly from old vines, some of which date back to 1901. Ridge, which has been making Lytton since 1972, bought the vineyard in the early 1990s.

94pts Wilfred Wong

Evocative aromas of boysenberries and savory spices; loads of berries and a hint of wood in the flavors, tantalizing finish.

93pts Vinous

The 2020 Lytton Springs is a very pretty wine. Bright floral and spice accents open first. Silky and medium in body, with plenty of persistence and fine balance, the 2020 is pretty impressive, especially for the year. Zinfandel character really drives the feel in 2020. A burst of red/purplish fruit, rose petal, cinnamon and dried herbs lingers on the open-knit, intensely perfumed finish.

93pts Wine & Spirits

At a recent celebration of Ridge’s 60th Anniversary, John Olney mentioned that the mixed vineyard at Lytton Springs has the oldest pinot noir vines in California, among many other varieties, many of them centenarian zinfandel vines along with petite sirah, carignane, mataro and grenache. The mix brings bass notes and dynamic energy to this classical California red. The red-currant and cranberry fruit has a healthy feel to its richness, lasting with restraint and elegance.

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2020 Lytton Springs showed well, offering solid darker berry and plum fruits as well as roasted herbs, chalky minerality, and dried earth. This spicy, savory, medium-bodied effort has solid tannins, good depth of fruit, and a clean finish. As with most 2020s, the savory, dry edge to the tannins detracts, but this certainly offers charm.

Tasting Notes

Rich blackberry and plum on the nose with notes of aniseed. Full-bodied with dark bramble fruit and well-coated tannins on the palate. The long finish reveals layers of black licorice and dried sage. Blend: 79% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane