93+ 2008 Ridge Lytton Springs 11/25/11 ($30)
74% Zinfandel, 21% PetiteSirah, 5% Carignane 14.4% alc
Color: Deep garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Concentrated Zinberry and black cherry with briar, integrated sweet oak and lively acidity. Racy! (3.5) Body: Excellent chalky acidity and Dry Creek Valley fruit. Very good tannin too, underneath it all. Heavyweight with elegance. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but slightly restrained. Still big and delicious. (3.0) Finish: Long and complex with marzipan-infused racy Zinberry, intense briar and licorice going on and on. (3.5)
Overall: It's been a long time since I've had a young Lytton Springs this good. I'd have to go back to the 2001vintage at least. I've missed it! It's big, yet classy with concentrated Zinberry, briary spice, black licorice and racy acidity. Should get even better in the next 5+ years, but it's delicious already. (16.5)
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