TN: 2019 Bogle Petite Sirah

[Albert_R]

Over the years I have recommended Bogle to young friends and family members with good success. Usually the Cab, Merlot and the Old Vine Zin. Most big box stores have them on the cheap. Some have graduated on to better quality and more expensive wines therefore mission accomplished.

[Albert_R]

Rich got any new material? Your stick is getting tired and extremely negative.

How about this. You stop constantly making references to 3-day tasting notes, and I’ll stop busting your chops about it. Deal?

After going to a tasting tonight with a quick impression of the wines I really now know why I do 3 day wine review. These two ounce pours and on to the next wine is no way to actually evaluate a wine properly. I am certainly not doing any more offlines with more than six people.

Ok boys let’s play nice in the sandbox. I like you both for your different perspectives.

[Alex_N]

Bogle was one of the go-to buys during super budget college and server/bartender times.

[Nate_Simon]

Bogle doesn’t get a ton of love here, and for sure they are a value brand, not something that most wine geeks are going to seek out. (They do have a “Reserve” line priced at $25+, though not widely distributed as far as I know.)
However, as mentioned above, distribution is wide and value is generally quite good, so if all you have is supermarket options, they are worth a go.
They are also from around about my hood, and really a great story, still family owned. They are genuinely nice people and do a fair bit of charitable stuff as well.

[D_Mowe]

Two wines widely distributed that if tasted blind next to similar wines up to 3x and 4x their price point consistently outperform are made by Bogle - “phantom” a petite sirah/mourvedre/Zinfandel blend and their newest offering is called “Juggernaut” which is Cabernet. Both at 20 bucks or sometimes a couple bucks less and should be found in most grocery stores are fantastic wines and a lot goes into making those wines. They use much different winemaking/vineyard selection than their normal Bogle branded offerings.

[John_Morris]

Bogle consistently makes a very good PS. And for the $$$, it’s a no brainer.

Indeed! I remember these were reliably tasty back in the (gulp!) 80s.

[John_Glas]

Bogle was one of the go-to buys during super budget college and server/bartender times.

I liked Columbia Crest Grand Estates. Still find it drinkable but not nearly as good as the late 90s.

[Drew_Goin]

I feel the same way about Bogle Phantom. Readily available, reasonable price and always a fan favorite.

When Bogle “Phantom” first came to my area (2002? vintage), it was an old-vine blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Mourvèdre. I was blown away by the QPR.

At this time, I was a 20-something wine buyer for a small gourmet foods & wine shop. We were allocated one case every month.

On a Friday afternoon, I successfully arranged for 10 cases to be delivered from the liquor distributor behind the back of our sales rep. It was the entire inventory for northern Louisiana, originally destined for CostPlus (World Market). At that time, most of Bogle’s retail sales were made through CostPlus.

The regional sales manager for the Bogle brand was not pleased. I imagine that my stunt caused some temporary supply issues, which finally brings me to my point…

When Bogle first dabbled in blends, it produced a “Ghosts do Roam” blend (~500 cs). Shortly afterwards, the “Phantom” blend was created for retail sale (originally 1,500 cs). It was a full-bodied, richly textured $16/btl red. The appeal of Bogle “Phantom” wore off when - over the course of three vintages - production increased from less than 5,000 cases to over 40,000 cases! The PS/Zin/Mourv red of yesteryear now is composed of PS/Zin/Cab Sauv. I suspect that heavily-charred American Oak flavors replaced the former iteration’s long, lingering finish, nicely accented by the grip of Petite Sirah.

This highlights one major challenge in the search for consistency among inexpensive wines. One year, you get a delightful wine. Then the production surges overnight, fruit sources change, and the price climbs. Becoming attached to a specific bargain bottling is, in my experience, rarely worthwhile. There are many affordable options for Wednesday Night Wines.


Bogle’s Petite Sirah, on the other hand, appears to have remained a model of consistency. Much of the fruit is estate-grown. Also, as the brand’s flagship, Bogle probably isn’t going to meddle around with the recipe.

[jnbrown]

Have not had this for quite awhile but found it to be a dependable wine for the price.
If you are stuck with grocery store wine this is a good choice.

[Jim_Stewart]

Have not had this for quite awhile but found it to be a dependable wine for the price.
If you are stuck with grocery store wine this is a good choice.

Almost exactly my opinion too, Joel

I have had a few Bogle reds and found them to be dependable wine for the price.
If you are stuck with grocery store wine this is a good choice

[Arv_R]

As much as I like the consistent Bogle PS, I only pick it up when traveling so if one has the taste for this varietal at home, I think the 2019 Stags’ Leap Petit Sirah [Napa] can be worth the rack slot. I’m not a huge fan of the overall brambly, brash character of this chewy varietal so only open them rarely, but Stags’ rendition is more refined – perhaps worth the premium of 2x to 4x to Bogle. Tannic, black fruited, leather and some density. I have a few more so looking to see if/how it develops, or perhaps survives. On my card, I’d give it a B+ at age 5.

[Gabe_Berk]

Bogle and McManis are good wines for the price. It will please anyone who enjoys wines. Even some of us Berserkers who make up 0.01 of wine drinkers.