Winemaker Tasting Notes
Nose of raspberry, pepper, licorice and a hint of vanilla. Black cherry and plum on the palate with supple tannins, minerality and present acidity. Long, layered finish with notes of garrigue and black tea. SR (7/25)
Blend: 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro - All Organically Grown
Alcohol By Volume: 14.4%  

Wine Spectator #3 Wine of the Year:
Dry Creek Valley is the epicenter of California Zinfandel, and few vineyards express that like Lytton Springs. It was first planted in 1901, and Ridge’s first bottling was in 1972. The soil in the flatlands is gravelly loam full of rocks, boasting the oldest vines, while the hill has more clay. The 2023 bottling is more than three-quarters Zinfandel, with Petite Sirah and Carignane contributing a zesty, spicy character to the blend. Lytton Springs winemaker Shauna Rosenblum, daughter of Zin legend Kent Rosenblum, aged the wine for 16 months in American oak barrels, 19 percent of which are new.

Wine Spectator: 95 Points “Deeply structured and full of tension, this polished red displays a distinctive personality, offering bold blackberry flavors accented with savory anise, black pepper and dark Asian spices. Ends with big but refined tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro. Drink now through 2035. From California.” -Tim Fish (April 2025)

JebDunnuck.com: 98 Points “Blending 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro from an estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley purchased in 1972, the 2023 Zinfandel Lytton Springs exhibits initial chewiness that leads to fine tannins, with a good heft and underlying acidity. Well-woven oak supports a moderately ripe, medium-bodied frame of structured elegance, aged in 100% air-dried American oak. Enjoy now through 2033.” -Virginie Boone (April 2025)

Zinfandel Chronicles: 96 Points “Dark crimson in color. Showstopping nose of red and black fruits, plums, earth and pepper. Medium to full bodied with exquisite acidity. There is a remarkable core of dark fruits presented in a package with notable power, structure and concentration. Blackberry, raspberry liqueur, marionberry and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. This is a Lytton Springs for the ages. Best over the next decade or so.” -Tom Lee (March 2025)

Decanter.com: 96 Points “A much cooler growing season delayed the start of harvest by about a month, resulting in a wine with greater restraint than the previous vintage. The 2023 is a more elegant take on this wine, with less fruit intensity, but still unmistakably Ridge. Fresh aromas of herbs from a bouquet garni mix with earthy tones and subtle sweet notes from baking spices. The fruit profile oscillates between ripe red and black berries, with a touch of plums and ripe cherries. Tannins are firm yet polished, and there’s a soft creaminess to the palate. A wine that is balanced and quite enjoyable now, with many years to evolve in the bottle.” -Ana Carolina Quintela (April 2025)

Wine.com: 95 Points “The 1972 Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel was my introduction to the outstanding portfolio of Ridge Vineyards. Tasted in the mid-1970s, I can still recall that memorable moment. The 2023 vintage showcases aromas and flavors of brambleberries, oaky notes, and sandalwood to the fore. Pair it with lamb tacos with a sweet mole sauce. (Best Served: 2025-2038)” -Wilfred Wong (March 2025)

OwenBargreen.com: 95 Points “The 2023 Ridge ‘Lytton Springs’ Red Wine combines manly Zinfandel (76%) with 14% Petite Sirah and the remainder Carignan, Mataro and Alicante Bouschet. The nose offers great potpourri notes with milk chocolate, fresh herbs and shades of ripe strawberry. The palate is smooth and silky with a refined mouthfeel and a great sense of tension and salinity that runs through the core of red and dark fruits. Every bit as gorgeous as the ’22, and slightly less burly and more mineral-driven, enjoy this beauty over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2025-2038.” -Owen Bargreen (March 2025)

JamesSuckling.com: 95 Points “A lovely release with lots of freshness from a cooler vintage. Bright and perfumed aromas of red cherries, raspberry coulis, confit plums, licorice and spice. The palate is full-bodied with finely tuned tannins and vibrant, crunchy acidity. Made from 76% zinfandel, 14% petite sirah, 7% carignan, 2% alicante bouschet and 1% mataro. Drink or hold.” (May 2025)

Vinous Media: 95 Points “The 2023 Lytton Springs is powerfully aromatic and expressive from the jump. It explodes from the glass with dark blue fruit, lavender and blood orange peel, framed by mocha-like richness and a wave of exotic spice. The texture is pure silk, wrapping the palate with seamless contours and lifted freshness courtesy of the cool growing season. A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro, the 2023 shows remarkable persistence and poise. If you know Lytton, you know these wines can age for decades—this one is clearly built for the long haul.” -Billy Norris (September 2025)

Wine Advocate: 94 Points “The 2023 Lytton Springs is a blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro that matured for 16 months in 19% new air-dried American oak. It’s especially elegant and expressive this year, offering pure aromas of black cherry, blueberry, damp earth, sage, violet and cast iron. The full-bodied palate features concentrated, fragrant flavors. It’s framed by fine, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long finish replete with soaring floral perfume. It should be long lived in the cellar.” -Erin Brooks (September 2025)

Vinography.com “Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of blackberries, cola, cocoa powder, and licorice. In the mouth, wonderfully juicy flavors of blackberries, dried and fresh herbs, licorice root, root beer, and blueberries swirl in a technicolor haze as faint tannins coat the mouth. Outstanding acidity, complexity, and balance. Delicious. A field blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet, and 1% Mataro. 14.4% alcohol. Score: around 9.5.” -Alder Yarrow (March 2025)