Bogle Petite Sirah 2004

by Ethan Johnson
September 9, 2006

OK, you caught me. Normally, I'm all about the white wine. But when I cross over into Red territory, I pop open a bottle of Petite Sirah. I have a preferred winery for this varietal, but I decided to mix it up a bit and try someone else. There's nothing petite about Petite Sirah, except maybe the price tag. This is a HUGE, boomy wine that no, I can't believe I got into. That's me, Mister Impossible. Let's check the rap sheet:

Producer (Vineyard): Bogle
Varietal (Grape type): Petite Sirah
Vintage (Year): 2004
Country: USA (California)
Color: Red
Cost: Inexpensive ($10 USD)

Teh booze

Swirl and Sniff: The color is inky as all get-out. If you use funky lighting tricks, then the wine is a really rich purple. The old "white napkin behind the glass" trick just makes it look black. I didn't get much off of the nose other than an alcohol smell. Oh, if you care about this sort of thing, this wine has "thick legs". And how.

Taste: Mmm, this wine wavers between HUGE and boomy, to tannin-y (dry mouth, but not horribly so), to a kind of "wang" that wasn't thrilling to taste. Deep, deep berry flavor, when you can wring it out, otherwise "inky" is the best I can come up with. Also: This is a terrible "date wine" as it turned my mouth (and teeth) purple. Yo singles: Opt for white. Or water.

Pairing: I paired this with grilled steak and mushroom rice. Wrong on both counts. This definitively debunks the notion that red wine "goes with" red meat. According to Bogle's web site, this wine pairs better with rich lamb, pork, or game dishes. You are warned. I ended up drinking this as an "after dinner" drink and it stood on its own better than with the bad pairing. Ya think?

Rating: When it comes to this wine, I would (and you may):

  • Buy a case of for regular enjoyment
  • Buy a bottle or two for occasional enjoyment
  • Ask for when dining out or at a party
  • Settle for if your preferred wine is not available
  • Politely decline and never drink again, ever

Well, if nothing else, I learned why I prefer my preferred winery for this particular varietal. I also learned why the Petite Sirah I ordered at a Tapas restaurant in St. Louis didn't seem so hot when I paired it with - surprise - grilled steak. But that was before I started to really pay attention to wine and learn more about it first-hand. Next time I have a "rich" lamb or pork dish, I'll try it with Petite Sirah, but from my go-to winery. Sorry, Bogle.

If you do give this a try, please let me know how your experience compared with mine. Thanks! <EM>

(The Totally Unpretentious Wine Reviews Index may be found here.)

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