I’ve gotten a bit of flak for using this term when describing a wine. In fact, I was at a wine tasting event that I put on, and one of the folks in my wine group said…”I think only you could get away with using that word.” Now, what he doesn’t realize is that many wine writers like to use the word “jammy” in particular when describing a red wine. What do I mean when I use that word as a descriptor?
Jammy: This is when the red wine actually tastes like a spoonful of Smuckers jam (flavor depends on the wine). Fruit-forward my be the politically correct term, put I really don’t think that does the mouth-feel you get justice. In most cases, a wine will come across jammy if it is high-octane (high in alcohol). Typical examples of wines that can reach the “jammy” level are, Zinfandel, Australian Shiraz and Spanish Monastrell or Grenache. Of course, I think there are other cases where wine can come across as jammy but the aforementioned examples are most common.
The term “Jammy” for a wine does not have to be taken as a negative. There is a time and place for such wines and if you are in the mood for a fruit-bomb jam session in your mouth, seek one of these wines out. There is the camp that believes that a wine that is high in alcohol and jammy is in some way flawed. My advice to them is… Don’t drink those types of wine. However, don’t persecute those who do!
Jammy can be misconstrued as flabby, but there is a difference. Flabby wine means no structure, life or pizzazz. Jammy just means the fruit is the prominent part of the taste experience and the fruit is ripe. The wine still has structure and still has life on the palate. If it is both jammy and flabby then yes, it is a flawed wine. There are times I really enjoy a jammy wine, especially when I’m eating something with a healthy dose of BBQ sauce on it or eating something sweet, like a piece of chocolate cake. There are also times (in most cases) I enjoy a wine that is mineral driven and shows restraint and finesse, or has a nice backbone of acidity. That is the beauty of wine. There is something for every occasion or whim and if we have an open mind and palate, we can find a way to enjoy them all.
Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
