89+ 2003 Ridge Lytton Springs 10/14/05 ($28)
76% Zin, 18% PS, 6% Carignane 14.3% alc
Color: Medium deep purple-garnet (3.0) Bouquet: Grapey (young) black cherry and blackberry fruit (very ripe) with briary spice and some chalky acidity. Nice intensity. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight with nice fruit-to-acid-to-oak balance. (3.0) Flavor: Cedar-infused blackberry liqueur. It’s tasty, but not showing all it has. Also doesn’t show the intensity of the bouquet. (2.5) Finish: Is more evolved here with cigarbox tannins coating black cherry and blackberry fruit. A very ripe Chianti Classico Reserva? (3.0)
Overall: A ripe LS that is not a long ager (don’t let it go beyond 8 years old) and is only a middleweight. It reminds me of the 2000 in style, but the fruit is not as intense. It is tasty and will probably gain some weight with 2-3 years of bottle age. Possibly a bit too much oak for its size, but I suspect this will integrate with time.(14.5)