2009 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

2009 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel SKU #1074796

$49.99

CG 96	RP 95	VN 95
ST 93	W&S 92	WS 90

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Professional Reviews

Connoisseurs Guide
96
*Three Stars* This winery's mastery of Zinfandel is once again evident here, and, if showing the richness and depth that we anticipate from Lytton Springs bottlings, this wine is keenly composed and comes with a little more polish than usual. It is young, it is incisively fruity and it is well-filled, and it forgoes bombast and flashiness for structured precision and great ageability.

(01/2012)
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
95
The 2009 Lytton Springs is the biggest and most structured of these 2009 Zinfandel-based reds, largely owing to the earthier soils and the presence 23% Petite Sirah. Black fruit, plums, tar, licorice and smoke are some of the notes that flow from this generous, inviting red. The Lytton Springs is fairly structured, and can definitely benefit from another year or two (perhaps more) in bottle. (AG)

(08/2011)
Vinous
95
The 2009 Lytton Springs is pure silk on the palate. Sensual, layered and supple, the 2009 is a wine of total finesse. Nothing in particular stands out. Instead it is the wine's harmony that rules the day. I suggest giving the 2009 a good bit of air, as it has a lot to offer for those who can be patient. This is a library re-release from Ridge. (AG)

(08/2017)
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
93
Opaque purple. Dark berries, cherry compote, licorice and vanilla on the aromatic nose. Ripe and fleshy, with powerful blackberry and bitter cherry flavors showing very good depth and intensity. Turned smokier and sweeter with air, finishing with excellent thrust and length. This really deserves at least a few more years of cellaring and should age slowly and positively for years. (JR)

(11/2011)
Wine & Spirits
92
No tasting note given.

(02/2012)
Wine Spectator
90
Briary and a bit untamed, but appealing for its cherry and dill aromas and well-structured wild berry, underbrush and cedar flavors. (TF)

(12/2011)

Staff Reviews

By: Mike Barber
10/11/2011
K&L Staff Member

Perfect vintage - great 100+ year field blend vineyard - this is one of the best lytton springs I've tasted in recent memory.
Drink from 2011 to 2018
By: Bryan Brick
9/13/2011
K&L Staff Member

If you haven’t tried the Lytton Springs and Geyserville bottlings by Ridge Vineyards by now you probably have been living under a rock, or on some deserted island somewhere. For decades, the first Geyserville was made in 1966 and first Lytton in 1972, these have been the best zinfandel based wines in the United States. For either instant consumption or long term cellaring few have ever shown as much promise and continuously paid such great dividends. At the annual Zinfandel Advocates and Producers Tasting (ZAP) back in January there was really one Zinfandel that stood out from all the rest and that was the 2009 Lytton Springs. There was so much wine in the bottle there that so many else at the same even couldn’t even hope to have. Fast forward nine months later and the wine has grown even more into itself with wonderful aromatics of gingerbread, spice cake, muddle blackberries and a waft of cigar smoke. This hits the mouth brimming with size, generous with its ample fruit and spice, but yet never feels excessive. It is sort of like a perfect steak, marbled and rich, needing almost nothing but a pinch of salt and pepper to make it sing. Long, dry and spicy with great balance, add a pinch of braised meat and this will do you well for decades to come.