Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2020 (75cl, 14.6%)

Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2020 is a Dry Creek Valley red blend of 79% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah and 10% Carignane at 14.6% ABV. Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1962 and has produced Lytton Springs since the 1970s. The 2020 vintage used full crush and 100% natural primary and secondary fermentation, with each variety and vineyard set fermented separately using indigenous yeast. After natural malolactic fermentation and minimal egg white fining, it was aged in air-dried American oak barrels of varying ages. The nose shows blackberry, ripe plum, aniseed and dried sage. The palate has black cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, black fig, cocoa, cracked pepper, coated tannins and black olive. The finish reveals black licorice, dried sage and fine-grained tannic grip.