Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2003 Sonoma California

Few producers have done so much for Sonoma's wines as Ridge. Their iconic Monte Bello is known to wine lovers the world over, but they have also invested heavily to rescue old vine plantings from the first wave of Californian immigration, which are often Mediterranean heritage varieties like zinfandel, grenache, petit sirah and mourvedre.

Paul Draper discovered this vineyard in 1972 and started making wine straight away, with the estate purchasing the site for perpetuity in 1991. Situated in Dry Creek, just north of Healdsburg, this site is planted mainly with centenarian zinfandel, intermixed with petit sirah, carignan, mourvedre and grenache. It is rare to see aged examples of these wines, which are often drunk young in the hedonistic richness of their youth, so this is a fabulous opportunity to taste a mature vintage.

This is showing gorgeous aromas of figs, baked plum, tomato puree and rose petal on a sumptuously soft, velvetty palate.