“Extremely sophisticated and complex.” - Jancis Robinson MW, 18 points

“The 2021 Lytton Springs is fabulous.” - Vinous, 95+ points

As it comes from one of California’s most iconic wine estates, with a loyal mailing-list, there isn’t much of this wonderful Zinfandel sent across the pond for us Brits to enjoy, so grab it while you can. Californian Zinfandel can be massively proportioned with jammy - even porty - flavours, but Lytton Springs is sleek and structured, refined and complex, and destined for decades of life ahead of it. A blend of Zinfandel (72%), Petite Syrah (15%), Carignan (9%), Alicante Bouschet (2%), Cinsault (1%), and Counoise (1%) aged for 14 months in American oak (20% new). Some of the vines were planted in 1901 and the Counoise vines are 80 years old. 14.5% alc. Drink now-2040.


Press reviews:

Jancis Robinson MW: “Dark garnet – much darker than Geyserville 2021. Extremely sophisticated and complex on the nose already! Quite a contrast to the Geyserville. Lots of ripe, slightly dusty, well-integrated fruit hits the front palate and then the wine builds towards the rich finish. You could enjoy this now but it might be a bit of a shame – not least in view of how well the 2009 shows today. Definitely a wine for the table. Drink now-2038.” 18 points

JancisRobinson.com: “Medium to dark garnet. Smells of cherry, plum and unripe blackberries. Fantastically juicy flavours of blackberry, sour cherry and hibiscus mix with dried herbs and dried flowers. Powdery tannins coat the mouth like chalk dust and stiffen slightly over time. Notes of dried and fresh herbs mix with liquorice root in the finish. Beautifully textured and seamless, with fantastic acidity that makes for a wonderfully mouth-watering package. Outstanding, and doubtless will continue to be for at least 2 decades. Drink now-2044.” 18++ points

Vinous: “The 2021 Lytton Springs is fabulous. Bright and vibrant to its core, the 2021 impresses with its poise. Readers will find a Lytton Springs that is very much in reserve, as opposed to the rest of the 2021s in this report, all of which are more approachable. Salivating acids and veins of tannin lend shape and persistence, but the 2021 needs time. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, rose petal and sage are some of the notes that linger on the close Drink 2028-2046..” 95+ points