Ridge's 98-Point, $48.99 American Classic!
For over 50 years, Paul Draper has been producing wine from Lytton Springs vineyard. With the 2023 vintage, he and his team have captured lightning in a bottle.
Earning 98 Points from Jeb Dunnuck and gobsmacking 95- and 96-Point reviews from Vinous and Decanter, the 2023 Lytton Springs personifies California at its best. It even took home the #3 overall spot on Wine Spectator's "Top 100 Wines of 2025" list, out of over 10,000 wines tasted!
It is a massive credit to Paul that, while so many legendary California wines now sell for over $200, we're able to bring his American classic to you for under fifty bucks!
Scroll down for the mouthwatering reviews, then SLAM DOWN FAST on that Big Green Button to get in on the action!
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2023 Ridge "Lytton Springs" Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
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“Dry Creek Valley is the epicenter of California Zinfandel, and few vineyards express that like Lytton Springs. It was first planted in 1901, and Ridge’s first bottling was in 1972. Deeply structured and full of tension, this polished red displays a distinctive personality, offering bold blackberry flavors accented with savory anise, black pepper and dark Asian spices. Ends with big but refined tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro. Drink now through 2035.”
- 95 Points, Wine Spectator (8/31/2025)
“Blending 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro from an estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley purchased in 1972, the 2023 Zinfandel Lytton Springs exhibits initial chewiness that leads to fine tannins, with a good heft and underlying acidity. Well-woven oak supports a moderately ripe, medium-bodied frame of structured elegance, aged in 100% air-dried American oak. Enjoy now through 2033. Maturity: 2025 - 2033.”
- 98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck (4/1/2025)
“The 2023 Lytton Springs is powerfully aromatic and expressive from the jump. It explodes from the glass with dark blue fruit, lavender and blood orange peel, framed by mocha-like richness and a wave of exotic spice. The texture is pure silk, wrapping the palate with seamless contours and lifted freshness courtesy of the cool growing season. A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro, the 2023 shows remarkable persistence and poise. If you know Lytton, you know these wines can age for decades—this one is clearly built for the long haul. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040.”
- 95 Points, Vinous - Billy Norris (9/2025)
“A much cooler growing season delayed the start of harvest by about a month, resulting in a wine with greater restraint than the previous vintage. The 2023 is a more elegant take on this wine, with less fruit intensity, but still unmistakably Ridge. Fresh aromas of herbs from a bouquet garni mix with earthy tones and subtle sweet notes from baking spices. The fruit profile oscillates between ripe red and black berries, with a touch of plums and ripe cherries. Tannins are firm yet polished, and there's a soft creaminess to the palate. A wine that is balanced and quite enjoyable now, with many years to evolve in the bottle. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2035.”
- 96 Points, Decanter (4/20/2025)
Median online retail is $56. This wine is a STEAL at that price. Snap up a few bottles or a case to enjoy during the holidays and over the coming decade!
Vin Chicago Price: 48.99
Also available are a limited supply of 375ml bottles...
Dirk Niepoort’s Delicious Ports!
With Thanksgiving just three days away, we thought it would be remiss to not send a few bottles of Port your way! With family and friends gathered for a full day of camaraderie, there is no better holiday to share a bottle of these delicious fortified treats.
Produced in relatively small quantities, the wines of Dirk Niepoort and his son Daniel are profoundly delicious. While most Port houses are owned by larger corporate entities, Niepoort is one of just a few top-level houses that is a small family business. Today, we bring you three of their wines...
Niepoort "Tawny" Porto NV
Douro, Portugal
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While Dirk is most famous for his high-end wines, the mark of a truly talented winemaker is what they can do at the value end of the spectrum. This is Niepoort’s basic Tawny, and it is quite impressive.
Pouring a medium-translucent ruby/garnet color, we were hooked after one sip. Aromas and flavors of fig, plum, holiday spice, potpourri, bergamot, coffee bean, vanilla and burnt citrus are balanced by a wonderful texture, just the right amount of warmth, and a kiss of sweet.
Perfect with Marcona almonds, hard salty cheeses or all by itself, this is a fun bottle and a tremendous value!
Vin Chicago Price: 16.99
Niepoort "10 Years Old" Tawny Porto NV
Douro, Portugal
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This is one of the best 10-Year Tawny Ports we've tasted in a very long time. Dirk crafts it from 60-year-old, hand-harvested vines in Porto’s most famous sub-region, Cima Corgo. We are a strong 94 points. Here’s the 93-point Wine Advocate review...
“The 2022 bottling of the NV 10 Year Old Tawny Port still has signs of youth and some ruby/red color in it, with notes of cherries in liqueur intermixed with nuts and spice, with lots of depth and complexity. I think the 10 year old is a category that is somewhere in between, still a little young but with some development and good complexity. That can be explained due to the fact that it's a blend of older and younger wines, and this is 10 years on average (or style) and, in my book, very good value for the category. It has 19.5% alcohol and 110 grams of sugar. 25,000 bottles produced. Drink Date: 2023 - 2053.”
- 93 Points, Wine Advocate (4/4/2024)
Vin Chicago Price: 42.99
Niepoort "20 Years Old" Tawny Porto NV
Douro, Portugal
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This 20-Year bottling is even more dense, nuanced and textured than the 10-Year, with a savory silk texture and added complexity. There is more “there” here and, for the Port lover, it is worth the extra bucks. It earns a very strong 95-point score from our crew. Here are the 94-point Wine Advocate notes…
“They think the NV 20 Year Old Tawny Port is perfect for their style, which is not too oxidative and not very volatile, the profile of much older wines, and they have a balance between youth and age, fruit and nuts. This has a lot of complexity and some liqueur notes, mixing the best of both worlds. It's intense, powerful and elegant, nuanced and complex, with a velvety palate, volume and density. It's long and tasty, with a lifted finish. Superb. Many people think these wines don't age in bottle, but I love it with the same time in bottle as in wood (20+20 year!). Drink Date: 2023 - 2053."
- 94 Points, Wine Advocate (4/4/2024)
Vin Chicago Price: 75.99
