Value Wine: The Value Cali Blend

This month’s Value Wine No. 2 is an incredible bargain from a wine value producer you should be familiar with: the 2010 Bogle Essential Red. Bogle is that rare California high-production producer that still manages to focus on the quality of its bargain wines.   In fact, the 2010 Essential Red is widely distributed and can be had for under $10 per bottle.  This wine’s price point likely puts it the display case of your friendly local wine retailer near decidedly average wine, but the 2010 Essential Red is anything but, so don’t judge this book by its cover.  The Bogle offering is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Sirah, and its wild cherry, mocha and tobacco flavors are described by Wine Enthusiast as impressing “for sheer deliciousness.” Wine Enthusiast awarded this value wine with an impressive 89 rating and named it a “Best Buy” for July.   Like the Seghesio Zinfandel noted above, the Essential Red makes a great grilling partner, at less than half the price!  That, my wine sleuth friends, is a value.  Go pick up several bottles for the grilling season!