Wine of the Month

Clos du Bois

2001 Reserve Tempranillo

Clos du Bois
19410 Geyserville Avenue
Geyserville, CA 95441

800-222-3189
 

Winemaker: Erik Olsen

Comment:

This is one of the Appellation Reserve series wines of Clos du Bois, the appellation being California's Alexander Valley where the winery is located.  A blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet, it is a food-friendly red different than the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that have been so prominent in California, with a softer feel. 

I found this wine by chance.  We had just served a very nice Spanish Rioja at a small dinner, and I wanted to see what American wineries might be doing with Tempranillo, the splendid primary grape in Rioja.  To my good fortune, I found this little gem. 

Clos du Bois is one of the few American wineries to produce wines with the grape, having planted the first vines in 1990.  Attempts had been made to cultivate it in the Central Valley, but the temperatures there were far too hot and the growing season too long.  The cooler clime of the Alexander Valley, similar to the Rioja region, has allowed the vines to thrive.