Cupcake Red Velvet Merlot (2011)

Another post from my dear friend Jess. We have shared many a glass of wine, although our tastes differ quite a bit! I’m glad to have Jess here to review what I lovingly call the “dirty reds.” – M.

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So, I totally get it. The Cupcake brand may be a bit too-mainstream at this point, but I have loved this brand from the beginning – and who cares! I have had and enjoyed all the “Red Velvet” reds, and I highly recommend the Red Velvet Malbec and Zinfandel, but for this post I stuck with the Red Velvet Merlot by Cupcake. First, let’s just get this out there – I love dry, dirt-tasting reds, so please bear that in mind. Second – I understand that the movie Sideways made Merlots “not cool,” but can they please make a comeback?!  They are delicious and completely underrated!

Onto the wine.  Cupcake states that this wine is “full-bodied with luscious blueberry aromas, flavors of rich black cherry and cocoa bean mingle into a plush finish.”  Yes, I totally agree.  This wine is definitely on the dryer side of reds, but the berry undertones take it over the top for me and allow it to have a smoother finish than other dry red wines.  We paired this with a sirloin steak and grilled vegetables and it was spot-on.   I honestly think it would have done just as well paired with a rich cheese or cheesecake.  It certainly needs a depth of flavor paired with it, but doesn’t necessarily have to be meat.

Paired with sirloin steak, grilled veggies, and sweet potato mash

Tasting Notes:

Wine Name: Red Velvet by Cupcake (2011)

Grape: Red, Merlot

Origin: Argentina

Price: $10.99 at Harris Teeter

General impression: dry, subtle berry flavors, delicious

Would you buy again? It’s a regular in my rotation!