2021 Ridge Syrah/Grenache/Mataro Lytton Estate

A blend of 74% Syrah, 17% Grenache and 9% Mataro from Ridge’s Lytton Estate in the Dry Creek Valley, the 2021 Syrah Grenache Mataro is a bright, citrusy red with tons of structure to support its saturated red and blue berry fruit. Smoky, meaty nuances emerge soon after the first pour, giving way to a taut, honed wine with abundant concentration and lifted floral accents. Charming and approachable but also built to age, the 2021 is another solid blend in the Ridge portfolio.

Full bottle 1,330g. 74% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 9% Mataro. From the wonderfully detailed label: 'Bottled April 2023. Drought conditions created water stress in the vines, reducing yields and resulting in outstanding fruit concentration. Syrah is the dominant varietal in this Rhône-style blend and is beloved for its colour, richness, and depth. The Grenache brings floral aspects to the wine, and the Mataro adds subtle spice ... Ingredients: hand-harvested, organic estate grapes, indigenous yeast, naturally occurring malolactic bacteria, water addition, tartaric acid, oak from barrel-ageing, minimum effective SO 2 .' Deep purple in colour. Sweet and smoky nose – like grilled meat with a berry-peach compote. Firm acidity and firmer tannin, with a long, spicy finish. This has generous fruit but the structure is tense enough that I'd leave it for another year. (SCJ)

Coming from the Lytton Estate Vineyard in Sonoma County, the 2021 Syrah Grenache Mataro is mostly Syrah yet includes 17% Grenache and 9% Mataro. It's a ruby/plum-hued effort offering a perfumed, more red and black-fruited style in its peppery herb, loamy earth, violet, and leather-driven aromas and flavors. It's beautifully balanced, medium-bodied, and elegant, with a solid 10-12 years of prime drinking ahead of it.