2022 Ridge - Petite Sirah Sonoma Lytton Estate (750ml)

Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1962 high atop Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains, building a reputation over the decades for site-driven wines and a deliberately old-fashioned approach in the cellar. That philosophy carries through every corner of the winery's portfolio, including its heritage vineyards in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, where Ridge farms some of California's oldest surviving vines. The winery avoids commercial enzymes and additives wherever possible, and it remains one of the few in the world to voluntarily list full ingredients on its labels.

Lytton Estate sits on benchland between Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, where century-old vines share the ground with plantings as young as the mid-2000s. This Petite Sirah bottling draws entirely from those blocks, some dating back to 1901, farmed organically and harvested in early September after a hot, drought-influenced season. The grapes underwent whole-berry fermentation with natural primary and secondary fermentation, then aged sixteen months in American oak, only a fifth of it new.

The 2022 vintage shows black olive, black cherry compote, and baking spice, layered with cured meat and earthy undertones. The full-bodied palate carries firm, well-framed tannins balanced by bright acidity through a long finish. It pairs well with braised lamb stew, smoked brisket, or aged blue cheese.