Ridge Lytton Spring 2020

Ridge Vineyards

Dating back to 1885, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking in California. Their constant search for rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched is an inspiration. In 1976, they astonished the world by their triumph in the Judgement of Paris tasting, and gained cult status almost overnight. To get there, they have a followed a simple philosophy: working harder in the vineyard to get the best grapes possible. This allows them for minimal intervention in the cellar, drawing all the fruit's natural richness into the wine.

Lytton Spring lies on gentle rolling hills separating Dry Creek from Alexander Valley, and is planted with 100-plus-year-old Zinfandel vines alongside Petite Sirah, Carignan, and a small amount of Mataro (Mourvèdre), and Grenache. Foggy mornings, warm and sunny afternoons and breezy late evenings makes it an ideal site for growing Zinfandel. Soils are varied with a predominance of gravelly clay, which aids in moisture retention, ensuring that the grapes ripen slowly.
Mainly made with Zinfandel, alongside Petite Sirah, Carignan and Mataro (Mourvedre) and aged in American Barrel (15% new) for 14 months. Lytton Spring is known for its pronounced rusticity and earthiness often attributed to its blending varietals; Petite Sirah and Carignan. Acid and tannin are firm, yet not overwhelming and dominated by the fruits. A balanced and powerful wine which often holds for more than a decade.

Delivery
Items are expected to be delivered within 4 weeks
Producer
Ridge Vineyards
Region
United States
Variety
Carignan, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Zinfandel
Bottle Format: 75cl

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Status
Price
Quantity
Case of 12
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£720
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Case of 12
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£567.96
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California

California is the largest and most important wine region in the USA. It accounts for the southern two-thirds (850 miles or 1370 kilometers) of the country's west coast. (Oregon and Washington make up the rest.) The state also spans almost ten degrees of latitude. With mountains, valleys, plains and plateaux, California's topography is as complex as its climate, offering winegrowers a bewildering choice of terroir.

Californian wines only rose to global renown in the past few decades (notably after the Paris Judgment of 1976). However the state's viticultural history dates back more than 200 years. European vines were first planted here in the 18th Century, as settlers and missionaries made their way up and down the west coast. They brought with them the Mission grape – the vinifera variety also instrumental in establishing viniculture in Central and South America. Although very few Mission vines are to be found in California today, it remains a cornerstone of Californian wine.

The first half of the 20th Century brought war, Prohibition and the Great Depression to the United States. Collectively these suffocated the nation's wine industry. It wasn't until the significant social, cultural and economic developments that followed World War 2 that things began to change. In the 1970s, Californian wine industry leaders brought about renewed winemaking passion in other US states, in turn sparking the national wine renaissance. This period saw a proliferation of new, small-scale wineries throughout the country and the upscaling of longer-established operations. Momentum has continued into the 21st century.

Today, California hosts some of the world's largest wine companies. It is also home to a number of boutique wineries, some of which attract astronomical prices for their cult wines. Whether through mass production or single-vineyard artisanal winemaking, California produces 90 percent of American-made wine. It also supplies more than 60 percent of all wine consumed in the country. A record 211.9 million cases were produced in 2011.

The principal varieties grown in California are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. A wide range of traditional European (Vitis vinifera) vines also flourish, including Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah. Zinfandel can also be included in the list as it is genetically identical to Tribidrag in Croatia and Primitivo in Italy. Among white grape varieties Sauvignon Blanc is a distant second to Chardonnay. These are grafted to hardy American rootstocks which are resistant to phylloxera. Less well known are American/European hybrids producing wines mainly for local consumption.