Maker: Clos du Bois, Geyserville, California
Price: $10
Varietal: Shiraz
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10
We liked the Clos du Bois Zinfandel, and we looked forward to the Clos du Bois Shiraz 2003 with anticipation. We weren’t disappointed. The aroma featured berry and spice, with a hint of saddle leather. The flavor is full and peppery, as you expect in a Shiraz, with plenty of dark berry notes, oak, and soft tannins. There’s a nice complexity to this Shiraz, but, as the label notes, it’s “an easy drinking wine.”
The winemaker notes, “This wine is a blend of 85% Shiraz, and 15% Merlot. The vineyards are located throughout Sonoma County with an emphasis on Alexander Valley and some sourcing from Mendocino County (20%). The grapes were harvested from October 8 – 23, 2003, at an average 25.5º Brix.”
We like the balance of the Clos du Bois Shiraz – it’s a fruit-forward wine, but there’s more than fruit in the flavor.