The first Lytton Springs was made in 1972 from vines planted at the turn of the century on the eastern half of the vineyard. The vineyard is planted to Zinfandel and complementary varietals on gravelly clay soil.

The wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Mataro (Mourvedre). Grapes are sustainably grown, hand harvested, destemmed and crushed, fermented on the native yeasts, and followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria.

On the nose are aromas of ripe blackberry, pepper, licorice and a hint of vanilla. There is concentrated plum and black cherry fruit on the palate with supple tannins, minerality and balanced acidity. The finish is long and layered with notes of ripe fig and dried herbs.

The 2019 Ridge Lytton Springs Proprietary Red Wine is a distinguished blend hailing from Sonoma, California, composed primarily of 73% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignan, and 2% Mataro. This wine is noted for its rich, complex profile and robust structure, and has garnered high praise from several reputable reviewers.

Jeb Dunnuck of jebdunnuck.com awarded the wine a score of 95, highlighting its "translucent ruby/plum hue" and its "beautiful cassis and red plum fruits supported by lots of savory herbs, orange blossom, cigar, and spice-driven aromas and flavors." Dunnuck describes the wine as possessing "medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, moderate yet present tannins, and a great finish." He also notes that in the 2019 vintage, this wine outshines its Geyserville Cuvee counterpart, which is a significant accolade given the latter's historical dominance.

Wine Enthusiast's Jim Gordon also gave the wine a 95, emphasizing its "densely packed and deeply concentrated blend" and the "subtle, complex fruit flavors ranging from raspberry to blackberry to blueberry." Gordon appreciates the wine's "velvety texture of fine-grained tannins and a subtle raspberry-like tartness" that provides excellent structure. He recommends enjoying this wine from 2025 to 2035, indicating its aging potential.

Wine Spectator's review, penned by T.F., offers a score of 94 and describes the wine as "detailed and compelling." The review mentions "briar patch and wild red berry aromas" that lead to "distinctive, multilayered white pepper and smoky anise flavors," culminating in "refined tannins." This review suggests the wine is ready to drink now but will continue to develop through 2031.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous also scores the wine at 95, noting its "exotic mélange of rose petal, blood orange, pomegranate and star anise" wrapped in "plush, silky tannins." Galloni remarks that while the wine is still young, it has a lot to offer and its Zinfandel component is particularly expressive.

Overall, the 2019 Ridge Lytton Springs Proprietary Red Wine is a robust and complex offering that has impressed critics across the board. With its intricate blend of flavors and potential for aging, it stands as a noteworthy example of Californian winemaking.