Clos du Bois - 2005 Shiraz

Over thirty years ago, the Clos du Bois winery was started by Frank Woods. In his plan to name the winery "Woods' Winery", his children, who were studying the French language at the time, came up with Clos du Bois, which loosely translated means "enclosure in the woods". With just 520 acres deep in the Alexander Valley, at the northern end of Sonoma County, Clos du Bois started with just two varietals of wine. Today, their vineyards not only span a larger area of the Alexander Valley, but also the Russian River Valley and the Dry Creek Valley, allowing them to produce three different lines of varietals under the Clos du Bois winery.

This week's favorite: 2005 Clos du Bois Shiraz
$7-15, local grocery or wine store

It was not until 2000 that Clos du Bois introduced their classic Shiraz. But what is great about their wines is that, bottle after bottle, the flavors remain true, and you can enjoy a great bottle every time. While I like their Chardonnay, their Shiraz is one of my go-to wines for everyday enjoyment. It has fragrant and bold flavors of blackberry, and the warm notes of black currants, plum, and pepper. It is dark and smooth, and lingers in your mouth like a decadent dessert.

I like to serve this with flavors of the fall... A warm, roasted chicken topped with rosemary and sage. Serve with a side of sweet potato mash, topped with butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon.