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| my cell phone doesn't quite capture the "dazzle" the way I'd hoped. |
When sampling any wine
for the first time, I generally try not to let what's written on the bottle
dictate what I taste. While it isn't actually flavored with blueberries, the
2010 Jellybean Blueberry Pie Merlot really does seem to have some of the characteristics
of fresh blueberry pie-- minus the flaky crust. It smells sweet and delicious--
and a lot like BLUEBERRIES-- but between the assault on my senses from the cold
I have been fighting this week and the honey-lemon cough drops I've been sucking
on like they're going out of style, I'm not 100% sure if the scents and flavors
I'm detecting are really in there, or if in my current state of tastebud
overload/exhaustion I am tasting what the label wants me to taste (does that
even make sense? I don't know; I've been awake for 37 hours. I really need to
go to bed). The Jellybean Blueberry Pie Merlot, another fine, screw-top
offering, begs the question: which came first, the flavor or the name?
So now that we’ve established that the Jellybean Blueberry Pie Merlot (possibly) really does (maybe) smell and taste a bit like actual blueberry pie (I think), I should probably touch on its other notable qualities. It has a luxuriously deep ruby color, and in the right light (my living room ceiling fan does the trick) it’s quite dazzling. It appears bright and rich, and tastes that way too. Juicy, dark and dare I say invigorating fruit flavors abound with each sip—intense cherry, ripe plum and of course the ever-present tartness of blueberries. There’s also a hint of vanilla, but that’s more of a legume, so I’m leaving it off my list of fruit flavors (I’m definitely starting to exhibit the effects of being overtired).
So now that we’ve established that the Jellybean Blueberry Pie Merlot (possibly) really does (maybe) smell and taste a bit like actual blueberry pie (I think), I should probably touch on its other notable qualities. It has a luxuriously deep ruby color, and in the right light (my living room ceiling fan does the trick) it’s quite dazzling. It appears bright and rich, and tastes that way too. Juicy, dark and dare I say invigorating fruit flavors abound with each sip—intense cherry, ripe plum and of course the ever-present tartness of blueberries. There’s also a hint of vanilla, but that’s more of a legume, so I’m leaving it off my list of fruit flavors (I’m definitely starting to exhibit the effects of being overtired).
A fairly uncomplicated wine, the aroma starts out bold and then recedes quickly, making the Jellybean Merlot an excellent go-to sipper. If I had to place a wager I’d say this newcomer* has a promising future ahead of it. And since I can no longer feel my tongue, that’s all I’ve got for you today!
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| Remember these? Gross. |
Price: $
My Rating: B
*Seriously, the website is "coming soon."
I think vanilla beans come from orchids. Thanks for the review of the wine. I plan on bringing it to my book club meeting.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Thanks for reading and for the tidbit about orchids :)
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