RidgeVineyardsLyttonSprings

95/100 – The 2016 Lytton Springs is a powerful, dense wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, new leather, cloves, licorice and menthol flesh out. Deep, plush and richly textured, the 2016 Lytton Springs packs a real punch. The 23% Petite Sirah is felt in the wine’s darkness and overall gravitas. There is more than enough richness and structure to support many years of fine drinking. What a gorgeous wine this is. – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

18/20 – Medium to dark ruby with orange highlights. Not holding its colour as well as some other vintages, but don’t let that fool you. Smells beautifully of dried herbs and flowers, with hints of meatiness. Fantastically bright and juicy flavours of dried citrus peel, plum skin and dried cherry mix with peach and faintly salty dashi notes that bring a wonderful umami character to the wine. Seamless, with faint wispy tannins that add only a tiny bit of texture. Dried and fresh herbs linger in the finish. Gorgeous. – Alder Yarrow, JancisRobinson.com

94/100 – Another winner is the 2016 Lytton Springs, a Zinfandel-dominated blend that includes 23% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignan, and 2% Mourvèdre. This medium to full-bodied effort has wonderful purity of fruit as well as slightly more density in its black and blue fruits, earth, and dried spices. With bright acidity and ripe tannins, it will be better with another year or three of bottle age and keep for 15-20. – Jeb Dunnuck

94/100 – This blend of 69% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignane and 2% Mataro has an x-factor attraction, in that all components are elevating each other to greater heights. The sum is more than the parts. Attractive red berries with blackberries, blackcurrants and red plums, too. This is assertively structured and will deliver best from 2022. – James Suckling

92+/100 – The 2016 Lytton Springs is also excellent, offering up aromas of crushed currants, plums, candied violets and baked clay. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and youthfully chewy, with a crunchy core of fruit and fine-grained but firm structuring tannins. It’s a bit more burly and rustic than the satiny, sumptuous Geyserville this year—no surprise, given that the blend contains fully 23% Petite Sirah (alongside 69% Zinfandel, 6% Carignane and 2% Mataro). – William Kelley, Wine Advocate