Awhile back I was doing some customer direct marketing and pouring a wine from Bogle, Bogle Phantom.  Like any wine, you can’t please everyone with any one wine. The fact is our taste preferences are as individual as we are. Bogle Phantom is a “proprietary red wine” from Bogle Vineyards in Clarksburg, California, USA. I enjoyed my visit to the Bogle winery in Clarksburg AVA just across the river from Sacramento and manage to take the long way out. So, when you visit, unless you want to explore, remember to head back the way you came. If you don’t you will see a lot of farm and vineyard and eventual end up at a river ferry crossing with no choice but to take the ferry, or turn around. I had come this far so I took the ferry across the river, to see what I could see.

While Bogle doesn’t reveal the blend composition, “proprietary red wine” they do say the vineyard source is Amador, Clarksburg, and Lodi.  Phantom is aged 24 months in one and two-year-old American oak. On the bottle, underneath the title of the wine reads: “Mysterious and Hauntingly Seductive”
Bogle describes this wine as follows:

“As you pour it from the bottle the glass just might remind you of the dark recesses of the cellar you sense a presence, hear footsteps.  Why is it these things only happen when you are alone?  In the shadows, a glimpse of muddy boots and old blue jeans…  the lurking legacies of hard work and determination left by those who have come before you.  We are proud to carry on the traditions of our founders with this unique red wine.  A deep ruby apparition that personifies the true spirit of the Bogle.”

Phantom appears in the glass just as suggested by the label on the bottle, this wine is ruby in color.  The bouquet is on the delicate side as I had to get up pretty close to the glass to notice what my nose would reveal what was in my glass. As I did so I could detect an enjoyable aroma with notes of dark ripe plum, caramel and spice. There was a noticeable sting of alcohol when I gave the wine a good sniff. The alcohol content of this wine comes in at 14.9%.

Recommend!
I would like to thank Bogle for allowing me to pour their wine, and my being able to observe others response to Phantom.  I see why a lot of people liked it. Since the flavor of clove came through to me, I’d suggest pairing this wine with a nice baked ham or for one of your backyard barbeques.

A little more about Bogle Wines
Bogle Vineyards sources their grapes in their California Appellation Program
In Clarksburg AVA Bogle sources Merlot, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
In Mendocino, the focus is on Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel wine grapes.
From the famous Russian River Valley come Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc
From Oakley California come Cabernet Sauvignon
Lodi Wine Country is known for its Zinfandel and from this region comes Old Vine Zinfandel and Old Vine Mourvèdre
El Dorado County provides Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for Bogle Wines
Amador County provides Old Vine Zinfandel

Bogle Vineyards is a six generation of farmers. The first Bogle to come west was a Captain AJ Bogle. Captain Bogle was an infantryman in the Civil War who traveled west to California’s Delta area, leaving behind his homestead in Tennessee in the late 1870’s. Traveling with AJ was his nephew Samuel and the two began to farm cherries, peaches, and pears. This endeavor unfortunately came to an end during the Great Depression when the family lost those original land holdings.

Warren Bogle, in the 4th generation of the Bogle Family and he was able to set down roots again when he purchased the first acreage after serving in WWII. It was in 1968 that Warren and his son Chris planted the first 20 acres of wine grapes on Bogle Family’s Home Ranch. Like many wine grape farmers, the Bogle family grew grapes for other wineries. It was 10 years later that the Bogle Family released their first wine under their own label in 1978. The original winery was constructed in 1979 and stands to this day.

In 1989, Chris Bogle, Warren's son, and his wife Patty began to focus on Bogle Winery in real earnest. Chris farmed, while Patty took care of the accounting at night their family home office. Chris proudly grew the wine grape farming operation and reached his goal of 1,000 acres before he passed away in 1997. After Chris’ death Patty zealously began to take over all the management, Patty developed a team of core team members, many are still at the winery today.

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