Winemaker John Kelly was unabashedly inspired by the wines of Château de Beaucastel when he created the first Westwood redFOUR in 2005. Every year the redFOUR moves more toward the ideal that John has in his mind for what this blend should taste like.
Our 2007 redFOUR is a blend of 46% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache, 22% Syrah, and 10% Counoise. We vinify each of the varieties separately. The Syrah ripens earlier than the other three components, and is fermented and aged on its own. The Grenache, Mourvedre and Counoise usually ripen within a few days of each other; they are fermented separately but we press them together and send this core blend to barrels. The components of the blend were aged in French oak, about 8% of the barrels new.
Nature dictates the core blend; our winemaker only plays around with the final fraction of Syrah. It’s hard to go wrong, though - in the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that inspired our redFOUR these varieties have been playing well together in the glass for over a millennium.
Dark ruby color with a slight unfined and unfiltered haze. The Moruvedre component of the blend defines the initial aroma: brandied cherries and cocoa, with overtones of anise. The aroma opens to a wonderful complexity; briarwood, pepper, leather, plum preserves, dried orange peel, and wet stone. The texture in the mouth is initially supple and silky, with a proper balance of acid and tannin. The finish turns more astringent and slightly warm, with a persistent briary, almost citrusy, aftertaste.
Sonoma Valley
46% Mourvedre. 22% Grenache. 22% Syrah. 10% Counise
14.9%
725 Cases
Starting out with involving, decidedly complex aromas of ripe berries, cola, cocoa, new leather and dried provencal herbs, this distinctive, firmly built wine stays on course once in the month even if it comes up a little tight and less outgoing in flavor. It is not overly tannic but tends instead to rather obvious tartness, and, while it has room to develop for a good many years, it is a wine that cries out for service with food it it is to be enjoyed any time soon. Reviewed by: Connoisseurs’ Guide to California. July 2012