91 2003 Ridge Lytton West Syrah 8/26/06 ($32)
91% Syrah, 9% Viognier
Color: Inky black purple. Deep, can just see through it.(3.0) Bouquet: Concentrated blackberry/cassis jam. Has a sweet richness like ripe black currants combined with lively acidity and a classy toasty oak component. Also a blast of Lytton spice. (3.5) Body: Excellent acidity propelling delicious, concentrated fruit, but has balance and class as well. Solid middleweight. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but a little more restrained. With the classic Lytton Springs spice, it tastes as much like Zin as Syrah. (3.0) Finish: Parallels bouquet with a touch of bitterness, but this is promising. (3.0)
Overall: A delicious wine no matter what grape it’s made from. This has a subtle Syrah character combined with Dry Creek Valley spice and spine. First impression is a Syrah made for a DCV Zin fan (like myself), but it’s young and has enough structure and balance to develop into something more in the next 5+ years. Only time will tell whether this site and grape marry well, but it’s very enjoyable now and I suspect it will continue to be so over the next 5 years, at least. Complexity and transformation potential remain to be seen, but this is promising. (15.5)