Consistency is the difference between great cheap wine and ordinary cheap wine. Two Buck Chuck, for all of its acclaim, does not taste the same from year to year, and its quality goes up and down with regularity. Even better made wines, like Meridian, suffer from this problem. One vintage will be terrific and the next will be much less than that (which is why its chardonnay is dropping out of the $10 Hall of Fame next year).
Bogle's wines, on the other hand, do not have this problem. I have been writing about cheap wine for almost 20 years, and for almost 20 years I have always depended on Bogle. It has never let me down. The petite sirah ($10, purchased) is the winery's showpiece, an outstanding example of the producer's quality and consistency. It is always clean and always varietally correct, which means it's not the same thing as a syrah and is not made to taste like one. This is saying something given the current trend toward blending varietal wines to make them sweeter and fruitier in a misguided attempt to appease the American palate.
Look for berry fruit, a touch of oak, and tannins at the end that give the wine some welcome oomph. This is a burly red meat wine -- pot roast and gravy, stews that have been cooking all day, and the like. Highly recommended, and the kind of $10 wine to drink to celebrate the blog's third birthday. It's the kind of cheap wine that makes writing about cheap wine a pleasure.
This wine has been one of my favorites ever since I first discovered it about eight years ago. I try to keep a few bottles on hand at all times to share with family and friends.
Posted by: Gary Boyd | November 17, 2010 at 07:09 AM
Likewise. Bogle does just about everything well. And their Petit Sirah is simply terrific. Had my first bottle at a Restaurant in Hobbs, New Mexico of all places. Fell in love with it there and have never looked back. If I'm in a pinch and need a good 10$ winner, it's definitely my top go-to wine.
Great choice for your anniversary wine of the week.
Posted by: Jeff Curry | November 17, 2010 at 08:01 AM
Always a favorite, especially if you are looking for a full bodied wine. I enjoy their Merlot as well. I would hate to see this get too popular and become hard to find.
Posted by: brian burns | November 17, 2010 at 11:41 PM
World Market in Grapevine, Tx has Bogle Petite Sirah on for 7.99 a bottle. They are giving 10% off on a case purchase which brings one of the best 10.00 wines you can buy down to $7.19 per bottle. Needless to say, I've already picked up a case. Wouldn't have told all you guys and gals if I hadn't. Matter of fact, I picked up several other bottles that were on sale there yesterday; some really good prices on some really good wine. WoooHooo, patry time.. or praty time... or well, you know.
Posted by: Jeff | December 17, 2010 at 04:46 PM