2002 Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel

[wondersofwine]

A six-ounce glass at Dean & Deluca, Charlotte. 14.4% alcohol The color was a pretty, dark purple-red. Not very viscous. Seems natural, not concocted. Perfumed nose of dark berries. Taste of ripe dark fruits. Very smooth tasting, goes down easy unlike some vintages or some zins with rough edges (read lots of tannin). (I read the label and Ridge managed tannins by letting grapes float as a cap rather than pushing them under continually and destemming some of the more tannic grapes). They also fined with fresh egg white (apparently not something they do routinely). They achieved the desired result--a smooth tasting wine with gorgeous fruit. Label (and same text on their website) says approachable now or will hold for ten years. Had with goat cheese salad (greens including spinach leaves, red lettuce, pinenuts, finely chopped bell peppers and Passport Goat Cheese from New Jersey). Yummy wine!

[Glass_A_Day]

I am a fan of most vintages of Lytton Springs. I will have to grab a bottle of the 02 and give it a test drive.

[winoweenie]

One of the great Zin Vineyards IMHO in the country. WW

[Corkmiester]

One of my fondest memories is of the 1970 Lytton Springs Zinfandel.I was fortunate to have purchased two cases of this great vintage.It took three years before I was able to start enjoying this wonderful wine.I pulled the cork on the last bottle in 1980 on my 40th birthday!

[winoweenie]

Hi Corky and welcome to the board. The original Lytton Springs along with Joe Swan wineries were responsible for getting me into Zins. I started with the great 74 and about 2 years ago discovered an orphan 79 in the cellar which we opened and blew away the whole jernt. (Pretty Lable Too). WW

[Kcwhippet]

Where's Valley Glen?

[winoweenie]

In Calif Silly!. WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[Thomas]

ww finally found someone near as old as he...seems quite happy now. Corki--your check is in the mail...

[Kcwhippet]

He's still a young pup - more like IK's age. Still a long way to go to reach ww.

[newsguy]

had a bottle of the '02 lytton springs to go with smoked turkey on thanksgiving. decanted 3 hours (the zin, not the turkey). no detailed notes, but can say the wine was absolutely delicious! old vine intensity and delivered wonderful zin fruit on the nose and palate. only negative for me is there was some heat noted on the tongue from the alcohol (about 14.5%, i recall).

[winecollector]

I had some of this wine too recently (Ridge Lytton Springs Zin.) I've always enjoyed Ridge Zinfandels... there are so many of them, and have never had a bottle I was disappointed with. Always an excellent producer in my book!

[This message has been edited by winecollector (edited 11-29-2004).]