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Question: What are the differences between Ridge Zinfandel wines from Geyserville & Lytton Springs?
Answer: Timely question for your scribe who visited Ridge Vineyards at Lytton Springs just north of Healdsburg California again last month. There are probably more similarities than differences. Both are 100+ year old vineyards providing field blends for some super classic Zins. IMHO some of the main differences would include these notes:
GEYSERVILLE: Tasted Ridge 2020 (55th consecutive vintage) of Zin, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, and Mataro interplanted field blend of 69/20/8/2/1 fermented together at 14.1 abv. The vines are 130+ years old planted on the valley floor with usually more Carignane and less Petite Sirah than Lytton Springs having rich ripe power with amazing perfumes plus elegance. Becomes more Bordeaux-like as it ages. Fond memories of that brilliant fine claret-like 1973!
LYTTON SPRINGS: Tasted Ridge 2019 (first one was 1972) of Zin, Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Mataro interplanted field blend 73/16/9/2 at 14.6 abv with some tartaric acid added. These vines are at higher elevation around 250 feet but younger at “only” 115-120 years and usually provides more Petite Sirah and less Carignane in the blend than Geyserville. Found it similar big dark tannic but with those typical earthy notes. Tends to be juicy and more forwardly approachable though their 2016 shows a powerful texture as well. Both vineyards result in fruit that delivers great distinctive wines. Fun to check them both out and find your own signature similarities & differences both young and with cellaring.
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