Region and Vineyards
Clarksburg sits within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where cooling afternoon breezes and tule fog temper California sunshine. This natural air-conditioning slows ripening, preserves acidity, and helps Petite Sirah retain vivid fruit while building color and structure. Alluvial soils—loams and silty clays over river deposits—contribute to depth and a distinct dark-berry signature, with that telltale inky hue Petite Sirah lovers seek.
Though labeled "California," the wine's heartland is Bogle's home turf around Clarksburg, where the family has farmed since the late 1960s. Petite Sirah thrives here: small, thick-skinned berries bring intense pigment and generous tannin, yet the Delta's diurnal swing keeps the profile fresh and food-friendly. The result is a plump, structured style with enough lift to stay lively at the table and the stuffing to age a few years.
Winemaking
This cuvée is 100% Petite Sirah, crafted to emphasize plush fruit wrapped in polished structure. After a color-focused maceration to draw Petite Sirah's hallmark inky depth, the team ferments to capture black-and-blue fruit purity—boysenberry, blackberry, blueberry—before shaping the texture with carefully judged oak.
Aged 12 months in American oak, the wine picks up notes of cocoa, mocha and gentle vanilla that complement, rather than cover, the fruit. The 2021 finished at 14.5% vol., with a pH around 3.74 and titratable acidity near 5.7 g/L—numbers that translate to a velvety, mouth-coating palate supported by enough freshness to keep everything in balance. Bottled for release in December 2023, it's ready to enjoy now yet has the tannin and fruit density to develop short-term.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Deep, inky purple with stained legs—textbook Petite Sirah intensity.
- Aroma: Boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry layered with cocoa, mocha, clove and a touch of cedar from American oak.
- Palate: Full-bodied and velvety; cascades of dark fruit, dark chocolate and sweet baking spice. Tannins are ripe and enveloping, guiding a long, savory, clean finish.
Did you know?
Petite Sirah is Bogle's heritage grape—the family planted it back in 1968, making it the cornerstone of their red-wine identity. Decades of experience have refined a house style: generous fruit, gentle extraction, and oak that polishes rather than dominates.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Smoked rosemary lamb shoulder: Rich fruit and rounded tannins embrace the meat's succulence; spice notes echo the herb rub.
- Braised beef short ribs with blackberry barbecue glaze: Dark fruit intensity and subtle sweetness dovetail with the sauce's caramelized edges.
- Gourmet cheddar burger: Structure and concentration stand up to beef and aged cheese; mocha notes play with the char.
- Smoked gouda mac and cheese: Creamy texture meets velvety tannins; oak spice adds a cozy, savory counterpoint.
