Jam Shed Malbec Review

Why It Works (But Not For Me)

Post gig, back home, and I fancied a glass of wine. Nothing planned, nothing serious, just something to switch off with. I didn’t have anything in, so I pulled into a garage and picked up a bottle of Jam Shed Malbec. Not something I’d usually go for, but it’s everywhere, and I’ve never actually tried it. Felt like one of those wines I should understand, even if it’s not my thing.

First Impressions

On the nose it was pretty much what you’d expect straight away, plenty of plum fruit, very forward, very open. But there was also a slight funk there which caught me off guard a bit. Not unpleasant, just enough to make me pause for a second rather than just write it off as a simple fruit bomb.

In the Glass

Once I got into it, it became clear fairly quickly where this wine sits.

Big hit of damson jam, the kind you spread thickly over toast. Rich, sweet leaning, very easy to drink. And that’s really where it stays. It doesn’t move, doesn’t open up, just delivers that same note from start to finish.

There’s no tannins to speak of, no real grip, and nothing structurally holding it together. It just feels smooth all the way through.

The Finish

This is where it drops off a bit for me.

There’s no real length, and it fades out with a slightly sweet, almost haribo note that takes the edge off things. After one glass, that sweetness starts to feel a bit much. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I didn’t feel any real pull to go back for more.

A Different Perspective

Liv tried it as well and kept it simple as always. Her tasting note was Ribena, which to be fair is pretty accurate. That rich, sweet, blackcurrant cordial style is exactly what this wine leans into.

What was interesting though is that she’s starting to pick out actual flavour now rather than just saying nice or smooth. I think that’s what happens when you keep tasting different wines over time, you naturally start to recognise things without even trying.

Why It’s Popular

I can completely see why this sells.

It’s smooth, it’s fruity, and it doesn’t ask anything of you. You don’t need to think about it, you can just pour a glass and enjoy it. For a lot of people, that’s exactly what they want from a wine, and this delivers it consistently.

Final Thoughts

This is one of those wines I’m glad I’ve tried.

It’s pleasant, easy to drink, and does exactly what it’s meant to do. But for me, I’m looking for something that evolves a bit more in the glass, something with a bit of structure and a bit of length.

This doesn’t quite get there, and that slightly sweet finish just takes it away from being something I’d go back to regularly.

I’ll finish the bottle, but one glass was enough for tonight.