2023 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Ridge Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley
New release
The oldest Petite Sirah vines at Sonoma County’s Lytton Estate were planted in 1901, with the youngest added in 2008. Although the variety had long contributed depth and structure to Lytton Springs Zinfandel, Ridge first bottled Petite Sirah as a standalone wine in 2002 for a limited release, followed by its first national release in 2009. Today, it remains an organically-grown, small production estate bottling that showcases the power and character of this historic site.
The 2023 season began with a cold, rainy February that delayed budbreak by nearly a month. Harvest was correspondingly late, and the hillside blocks, bearing small, tightly packed clusters, were picked on 13 October, with the lower parcels following a week later. The small berries produced a wine of remarkable concentration, delivering rich dark fruit character, balanced natural acidity and firm, age-worthy tannins.
Whole berry fermentation with native yeasts and limited pump overs preserved purity and freshness, before ageing for sixteen months in air dried American oak.
Deeply coloured, expressive Petite Sirah with intensity, balance and the unmistakable stamp of organically farmed, estate grown old vines.