92(+?) 2013 Ridge Lytton Springs (Dry Creek Valley) 12/3/16 ($35)
74% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane, 2% Mataro 14.3% alc
Color: Deep purple garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Restrained, yet concentrated blackberry fruit with black licorice, briar and tobacco nuances. (3.0) Body: Heavyweight with excellent fruit, acidity and tannins. Coats mouth beautifully. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but the fruit is more open and giving. (3.5) Finish: More like the bouquet than the flavor, being restrained in fruit, but the spice comes out here with briar, tobacco and menthol being prominent. (3.0)
Overall: A big, backward Lytton with prominent Petite Sirah-like tannins, yet has the concentrated blackberry fruit to meet. I wish the fruit was more interesting at this point, but this should come with time. What it does show now is plenty of black licorice, menthol, tobacco and briary spice. The structure for aging is most impressive now and will likely reward patience in the next 5-8 years. (16)
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