The 2011 Bogle Vineyards California Pinot Noir is sourced from contracted vineyards in the Russian River Valley AVA (inside Sonoma County) and the Monterey AVA along with Bogle Estate grown grapes from the Clarksburg AVA (southwest of Sacramento and west of Lodi). Bogle is a 6th generation family owned winery with extensive vineyard holdings in the Clarksburg AVA. The Russian River and Monterey AVA’s are well respected Pinot Noir growing areas and the Clarksburg Delta while an inland location gets cooling winds off the San Francisco Bay that gives the area a coastal climate. This Pinot Noir was aged in French and American oak barrels for 10 months. A quick check of the web showed the Bogle selling for $9 to $12 on line. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The color is candy apple red, it would be a great color to paint a ’72 Chevelle SS. The nose interesting, there some fresh ripe cherry aromas mixed with light herbs, faint Cuban cigar and a touch of smoke. On the palate there is a mix of ripe red fruit with Pinot’s funky flavors, such as tar, mushroom, herbs, pencil lead and tea. This Pinot Noir has a bit more body than the best of the expensive Pinot Noirs, but it isn’t missing much of the taste. The acidity gives the Bogle some very decent length and the finish starts off strong then slowly fades away.
A few years ago, inexpensive Pinot Noir and expensive Pinot Noir were two very different wines, the cheap stuff was a light bodied, soft fruity wine and the expensive stuff was complicated and ethereal. Today, the inexpensive stuff and the expensive stuff are starting to look more alike. If you want a real deal Pinot Noir and do not want to spend a ton of money, the 2011 Bogle Vineyards Pinot Noir will get the job done.
