Ridge Lytton Springs 2009, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA

This delicious wine is a blend of mostly Zinfandel with 72%, Petit Sirah at 23% and in a supporting role, Carignan with 5%, maturation taking place 100% American oak for 14 months (25% new, 20% one year old and 55% four to five years old) and alcohol coming in at 14.5%.

This wine opened up with a sexy bouquet of blackberry-plumy fruit, raisins, grilled toast, cigar, incense and sweet, exotic spices. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, well structured by rich briary fruit, mild acidity and firm but not overbearing tannins. With an excellent depth of flavours on the finish, fine texture, soft seductive fruit and gentle oak spices lingering. This is my go to producer of great zin blend wines and in this vintage; Ridge Lytton Springs 2009 is especially delicious. Very enjoyable. Score 92 points.   

Purchased May 26, 2012 LCBO New Release (982413) at $46.95

Ridge Three Valleys 2009, Sonoma County, California, USA

This wine is a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 10% Petit Sirah, 3% Gernache and 2% Mataro with alcohol coming in at a reasonable 14.1%. Not very flashy on the nose for a Zin, with aromas of blackberry/black cherry fruit, licorice, smoke, pencil shaving, tobacco and wood spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, with lots of concentrated flavours, balanced acidity and dusty tannins. This wine finish is very long, very smooth with good texture and a lot of detail. I have been following Ridge Three Valleys for quite some time now, very interesting as always, seemingly different from year to year but they always seem to produce a more refined, tasty, savoury style Zin blend. It would certainly be interesting to sit at the same table and be part of the team that blend the final product. Very enjoyable, score 90 points.

Purchased March 3, 2012 LCBO New Release (652875) at $34.95

Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Estate 2006, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA

Ridge Zinfandels have been one of my favourite Zins for quite some time now, but this is my first experience with a Bordeaux blend from this vineyard. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon at 56%, Merlot at 42% and as a supporting role, Petit Verdot at 2% with alcohol coming in at 13.7%, surprisingly low for a California wine. The best part of this wine is the aromatics, with aromas of red and black fruit, cassis, savoury and floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with chalky tannins, very thin in mid palate with sharp acidity. Medium length on the finish with red cherry fruit, tart, dry with persistent tannins lingering. With these tannins you would think that this wine needs time to come around, but there isn’t enough fruit and structure for this wine to improve. At this price, not a good value, next time, I will stick with there lovely ripe zinfandels. Score 88 points.

This wine was purchased March 5, 2011 LCBO New Release (089284)at $49.95

Ridge Lytton Springs 2007, Dry Creek Valley - Sonoma County, California

This wine is a blend of 71% Zinfandel, 22% Petit Sirah and 7%Carignan, fermented with natural yeast and aged for fifteen months in American oak. Ridge sure know how to do blends and this wine has great aromatics; dark plums, blueberries, cassis and cedar. The palate is well structured with rich flavours, lively acidity and firm tannins. Long espresso finish wrapped in fine tannins. I really enjoy Ridge Zinfandel, they are never over the top jammy or alcohol. This wine has great flavours and class. This Zinfandel could age 2 to 4 years easy. Yummy

This wine was purchased on October 30, 2010, LCBO New Release at $44.95