Phantom Red 2019
It was Vintage Wine Taster Bruce who put me on to the Phantom Red that he’d purchased at Trader Joe’s. He told me the wine drinks like a $50 bottle of wine. That got me motivated to give it a try. I opened the bottle and enjoyed a few sips with some sourdough bread and cheese. I instantly realized that the pairing was not entirely satisfying. My mind quickly shifted to an image of biting into a juicy cheeseburger. The Phantom might be the perfect match with a hamburger.
The Phantom is $14.99 and elsewhere sells for $17.99. Bogle is the producer of the Phantom. The wine is rumored to be 56% Petite Sirah, and the rest Zinfandel. Because California is on the bottle, that means the grapes come from various vineyards in the State. Since the winery is in Clarksburg, one can assume that the majority of the grapes come from that wine region. The Bogle winery makes an Old Vine Zinfandel, Essential Red, and a Petite Sirah for around $10 to $12. You can find those wines in just about any supermarket where you shop. Costco carries these at times for under $10.
Tasting Notes
The aroma of the Phantom is more on the subtle side, with black fruit character. On the palate, we have spice and jammy dark fruit. The Phantom is what we call a full-bodied wine, one requiring food that matches the intensity of the wine. I like the long finish (aftertaste) on the wine.
Overall, the wine is a tasty wine for those who like a generous mouthfeel. This is a great wine for an outdoor BBQ . Since is it a big boy, you want to grill up tasty cheeseburgers or steaks, ribs, and sausages.
Vivino app users, 34,591, rate it at an average of 4 out of 5 points. That’s overall a very good rating for a wine at that price. I rate the Phantom an 89-Point wine and an excellent wine value at the Trader Joe’s price of $14.99.
If you’re a Trader Joe’s shopper, I highly recommend reaching for the Bogle Phantom. While you’re at it, make your way to the meat section and grab some ground beef to create mouthwatering grilled cheeseburgers. Add some cheese slices to your basket and you’re in business for a terrific match with the Phantom. Oh yeah, add some sliced red onion to the mix.
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