Lytton Springs, Ridge 2022 75cl

Lytton Springs is one of Ridge's flagship field blends — old-vine Zinfandel woven with Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet from a single Dry Creek Valley vineyard. The 2022 is a rich, layered red that shows why Ridge sit at the top of California's Zinfandel tree.

Ridge Vineyards have farmed the Lytton Springs site for decades, and the estate's philosophy is to let the vineyard speak: native-yeast fermentation, American oak used with restraint, and minimal manipulation. This is a genuine field blend, the varieties often planted and picked together, which gives the wine its complexity from the ground up rather than from the cellar.

Expect a deep, saturated purple and a nose of blackberry, black cherry, plum and a lift of black pepper, dried herbs and sweet cedar spice. The palate is full-bodied and generous, the ripe fruit framed by firm but fine tannins and a savoury, brambly depth from the darker grapes. Alcohol is present but well judged, and the finish carries real length and a peppery kick.

Delicious now with a decant, and structured enough to develop over eight to ten years. At around £60 it is a serious, characterful red with a track record for ageing — worth every penny for lovers of bold, honest California wine.

How to Serve

Serve at 16-18°C in a large Bordeaux glass. Decant an hour ahead, particularly when young.

Where to Drink It

Blacklock in Soho for its chops and big reds. Hawksmoor for a proper steak. Smokestak in Shoreditch, where its pepper and fruit meet barbecue smoke.

Food Pairings

Made for barbecue and slow-cooked ribs, or a peppercorn-crusted steak off the grill.