WTN: Lytton the Good Times Roll

[David M. Bueker]

Night one of three with my folks. Some home made chili and zinfandel.

1999 Ridge Lytton Springs
Drink now and over the next five years. This is in a beautiful place, and has integrated to perfection. There's not much to say other than yum.

2001 Rosenblum Zinfandel Richard Sauret Vineyard
Much less candied than several years ago. Not quite the seamlessness of the Ridge, but more fruity and direct. Very enjoyable.

Night one of three with my folks. Some home made chili and zinfandel.

1999 Ridge Lytton Springs
Drink now and over the next five years. This is in a beautiful place, and has integrated to perfection. There's not much to say other than yum.

2001 Rosenblum Zinfandel Richard Sauret Vineyard
Much less candied than several years ago. Not quite the seamlessness of the Ridge, but more fruity and direct. Very enjoyable.

We only had the '99 LS in 375, so drank it a year ago, at which time we found it to be in a very good place. Paul Draper is of the opinion (as evinced on the back label) that this is a 20+ year wine. Alas, I'll never know, as that 375 was it for our supply

Mark Lipton

Night one of three with my folks. Some home made chili and zinfandel.

1999 Ridge Lytton Springs
Drink now and over the next five years. This is in a beautiful place, and has integrated to perfection. There's not much to say other than yum.

2001 Rosenblum Zinfandel Richard Sauret Vineyard
Much less candied than several years ago. Not quite the seamlessness of the Ridge, but more fruity and direct. Very enjoyable.

You do like some real wines!!!!

I mention that because in addition to the 90 La Conseillante I am probably going to pop a 1993 Monte Bello on Christmas Eve.

I'm not surprised. Back in '06 I was a participant in a Ridge Lytton Springs tasting vertical--'88 (not bad) '91 (not much there--maybe a badly kept bottle?) and '94-'04. The '99 was everyone's #1--impressive because these people were mostly philosophy profs who ordinarily can't agree on what day of the week it is. My '97 was in the lower half, but Ridge Lytton Springs and Geyserville are the best in California. The trouble for me is that there's no no easy way to tell what has ageing potential and the winery recs don't really help. But I've still got a few '99s in my cellar--luck of the draw!

Very nice, and a reminder I need to drink more Ridge.

(Oh, and that's a truly awful pun. Well done.)

David-

You nailed the 99 Lytton perfectly. I had this about a year ago and described it as What a Wonderful Wine.

'Winger

[David M. Bueker]

The trouble for me is that there's no no easy way to tell what has ageing potential and the winery recs don't really help.

Interesting. I generally have very good luck following Paul Draper's recommendations. My only quibble is htat the wines are even more ageable than he says. Gee...shucks.

Damn - you are making me sad that I stopped buying California wines before the 99 vintage.

[David M. Bueker]

I don't buy much California wine anymore, but Ridge and ESJ will always be on my list.

My Lytton/Geezer ageing experiences coincide with David's. I've found Draper's drinking windows indicative but conservative.