Very juicy and chewy with mulberry and mocha notes. Paul Draper’s love of old California field blends and his belief that Petite Sirah and Carignane (which Ridge spells in the old California manner with an ‘e’ at the end) add a complementary intrigue to Zinfandel are at work in the Lytton Springs. Accordingly, the wine is not labelled Zinfandel even though at 79% Zin, it could be. The 10% Carignane adds an earthy, sensual, south-of-France character to the flavour. The Petite Sirah – which is never petite in California – adds power and a wallop of tannin. A very distinct wine, mostly from old vines, some of which date back to 1901. Ridge, which has been making Lytton since 1972, bought the vineyard in the early 1990s.