What Kind of Wine Is Layer Cake Shiraz?
Layer Cake Shiraz is an aromatic red wine that is reasonably priced. This wine is grown, produced, and bottled in Australia, and not it is available in the USA. Bursting with ripe red fruits and warm spices, this Shiraz produces layers of chocolate as the name suggests. It will remind you very much of a slice of Black Forest Cherry cake. You will soon understand why Layer Cake Shiraz reviews are so full of praise!
Layer Cake Shiraz Review
- Winery — Layer Cake
- Country/Region — South Australia
- Type — Australian Shiraz
- Aroma — Plums, Pepper, Licorice
- Grapes — Shiraz
- Taste — Chocolate, Mocha, Oak, Dark Fruit
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef, Lamb, Poultry, Venison
There is a good reason why the name of this divine Shiraz brings to mind a wonderful cake or dessert. It has fruity layers of baked blackberries, sweet, ripe cherries, and dark chocolate. But do not be deceived into thinking that this Shiraz is frivolous and categorized as a sweet dessert wine! Oh, no. It has earthy flavors and hints of ground pepper and dried thyme. It envelopes the palate and gives you all the warmth of comfort food and a big hug from your favorite person.
Tasting Notes
If you like a lot of flavor in your Shiraz, then Layer Cake will not leave you let down in any way. Your palate will be treated to warm spices and dark chocolate. The fruitiness is front-forward and then it is backed up by many layers of flavor as the name on the bottle promises and delivers! You will enjoy this Shiraz all the more for the fact that obtaining this amount of jammy fruitfulness in a bottle will not cost an arm and a leg!
Appearance
Hold your glass of Layer Cake Shiraz to the light. You will behold the deep dark red, almost inky color of the Shiraz. As it clings to the sides of the glass, it slowly changes to an opaque purple with a violet-fuchsia rim. The appearance announces the royal richness of this spectacular wine.
Aroma
From the first sniff, the lush dark fruit mixed with the aromas of spice and chocolate, will lure you closer to the glass. It is like a sexy siren singing from the rocks and the powerful draw is almost impossible to resist. The aromas of this wine are not shy. They explode from the bottle like a genie that has just been waiting to be released. Earthy minerals follow the mocha, roasted coffee beans, and licorice smells, and then give way to the buttery vanilla and oak bottom layers.
Taste
The Layer Cake Shiraz does not wait for a second invitation to envelop your stimulated taste buds. The dark fruits march in with their concentrated, mature autumn sweetness, and the aniseed, subtle tannins and earthy flavors bring up the rear. Your palate has no option but to revel in the flavors that abound in this full-bodied Shiraz.
Finish
As you would expect from a full-bodied Shiraz, Layer Cake lingers on the palate and allows you time to notice the delicious flavors as they change and fade. With all the characteristics of a New World red wine, the Layer Cake Shiraz is an example of concentrated winemaking with oodles of fruit, spices, and oak on the finish.
Rating
Wines that come from the Barossa Valley in Australia are famous for being top of the range. Layer Cake Shiraz wine is no exception. Grown on old-vine Shiraz and benefitting from the some of the best terroir that south Australia has to offer, you will find a tiny bit of heaven in your glass. From the first sip, you will notice the wonderful layering that the winemakers have achieved, and as they say, “Every layer tells a story”. You are sure to want to extend the drinking pleasure and discover each delicious layer as it reveals its tale on your palate.
Layer Cake Shiraz Food Pairing
The hearty Layer Cake Shiraz can be perfectly paired with beef, lamb, and poultry dishes. It does not have to be restricted to cold weather drinking, although it is the perfect red wine to sip in front of the fire. It will be just as happy served at the barbeque with grilled meat and chunky salads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Layer Cake Shiraz?
Jayson Woodbridge, the winemaker at Hundred Acre Wines, is considered a genius by those in the wine trade. With some of his friends from Napa, the concept for Layer Cake was created. He wanted wine lovers to be able to enjoy exceptional, yet approachable wines whenever the mood takes them. He believes that great wines can be produced at reasonable prices. Collecting the grapes from all the best wine-growing regions around the world, they have created famous, award-winning wines including Layer Cake Shiraz.
How Is Layer Cake Shiraz Made?
The grapes are handpicked during the day and transported to the winery as quickly as possible to preserve the freshness of the grapes. After separating the stalks in the de-stemmer, the wine is carefully fermented in tanks. Shiraz is fermented on skins, and that adds to the color and depth of tannins in the wine. Yeast is one of the important ingredients that are added before the 10-12 day fermentation period. The Layer Cake Shiraz undergoes malolactic fermentation which is a natural occurrence when malic acid is converted into soft lactic acid. Then the wine is ready to be pressed.
Finally, it is aged in oak barrels for anything from 6 – 24 months. A higher percentage of American oak is used in favor of French oak for Shiraz. The rich, subtle nature of the Barossa Shiraz is enhanced by American oak. Filtration is the final step towards creating a clear, intense red wine. Bottling of the Shiraz follows, and often the reds are left to continue maturing until the perfect time to be released for sale. Every step of the winemaking process is monitored under the watchful eyes of the winemakers.
Where Is Layer Cake Shiraz Made?
The vineyards of McLaren Vale, the Barossa Valley, and the coast of Gulf St Vincent provide the grapes for Layer Cake Shiraz. Each of these microclimates brings an essential flavor to create this complex wine. Vines along the coast benefit from the cool sea breezes and the shallow red soils of the Barossa Valley are frequently blasted by dust storms from the Outback. Vineyards there struggle to produce small, thick-skinned grapes with huge personalities. At Layer Cake, the producers value the places, people, and culture of their chosen regions. That is their recipe for success and the reason why they can create wonderful wines at affordable prices.
How to Serve Layer Cake Shiraz?
The delightful Layer Cake Shiraz is sealed with a screw cap so that means it can be resealed quickly and easily. A hearty, full-bodied wine like this red will taste so much better if they are opened a couple of hours before you plan to serve it. You may like to decant it, and then serve wonderful ruby red glasses full of this delicious wine. Red wine glasses with a large bowl and a wide mouth are perfect for allowing the delicious aromas to rise to the nose before entering the palate.
How Much Does Layer Cake Shiraz Cost?
Layer Cake Shiraz is the ordinary wine-lover’s go-to-wine. Thankfully, the winemakers at Layer Cake realized that it isn’t possible for everyone to afford a $300+ bottle of wine – even for special occasions! It is for that reason that Layer Cake wines, and their Shiraz in particular, have been such an overwhelming success. The Layer Cake Shiraz price is considered by some to be the best. And all that quality is available for less than $30! Check out the price range with your favorite online distributor and you will find it in the $11-$17 range.
How Long Does Layer Cake Shiraz Last?
Having had suitable barrel aging, the Layer Cake Shiraz should have good aging potential. If it is carefully stored in a cool, dark place it could continue to develop even more subtle flavors. My advice would be to store it for two to four years, but ensure that the corks are well sealed and keep bottles lying on their sides on the rack.
How Many Calories Does Layer Cake Shiraz Have?
As with most red wines, the Layer Cake Shiraz calories should not cause too much concern, even for the most careful calorie watcher. A 6 oz. serving contains 4 grams of carbs and 120 calories.
Conclusion
There is a good reason why the name of this divine Shiraz brings to mind a wonderful cake or dessert. It has fruity layers of baked blackberries, sweet, ripe cherries, and dark chocolate. But do not be deceived into thinking that this Shiraz is frivolous and categorized as a sweet dessert wine! Oh, no. It has earthy flavors and hints of ground pepper and dried thyme. It envelopes the palate and gives you all the warmth of comfort food and a big hug from your favorite person.
