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2006 redFOUR, Annadel Estate, Sonoma Valley
Released
April 2010, 640 cases produced
Internet-Direct Price: $23.50 / 750 mL bottle
Planted in 2001, the Rhône varieties at our cool-climate Annadel Estate Vineyard continue to mature: seven different blocks of Syrah, three blocks of Grenache, a block of Counoise and a block of Mourvedre. We also have a tiny block of the relatively little-known varietal Tannat. Our vineyard site has a unique combination of soils and mesoclimates that allowed us to locate each of the varieties in expositions where they ripen properly. We sourced budwood for some of these varieties from Tablas Creek nursery - the mothervines for this wood came directly from the famed Château de Beaucastel. In-house we refer to the redFOUR as our "Beaucastel blend." The 2006 vintage marks our second release of this California iconoclast, styled like its progenitors from near Avignon but very much a showing its unique Sonoma Valley sense of place.
Our 2006 redFOUR is a blend of 38% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre, 23% Grenache and 12% Counoise. The balance includes almost 0.5% of the white Rhône grape Rousanne from field blending, and a hint of Tannat from topping. After vinification, the components of the blend were aged in French oak, about 10% of the barrels new. This markedly soil-driven redFOUR is assertive but balanced, with a racy floral perfume overlaying black cherry fruit, a peppery minerality, and briary and leathery notes.
Winemaker's tasting notes:
This wine is a deep garnet red in the glass, with rosy edges and perfect clarity. The redFOUR opens up to an explosive perfume of rose petals, crushed raspberries, white pepper, black cherries, briar, leather, black pepper and wet concrete. In the mouth the initial impression is one of weight and softness, with pleasing fruit flavors and excellent equilibrium. The finish is long, complex and spicy; the structure of the wine really asserts itself in the aftertaste - this wine truly merits the ’iron fist in a velvet glove’ description. Our 2006 redFOUR continues the evolution of the food-friendly style we have envisioned for our Rhône blend. As with our first release in 2005, the 2006 Westwood redFOUR remains a screaming value.
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Our markedly soil-driven redFOUR Rhône blend is assertive but balanced, with a racy floral perfume overlaying black cherry fruit, a peppery minerality, and briary and leathery notes.
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