Layer Cake Pinot Noir

Layer Cake Pinot Noir is a red wine from the Central Coast of California, USA.

Grapes for this 100% Pinot Noir are grown in two different vineyards.  The first, Monterey at Arroyo Loma and Alta Loma.  The second, Santa Barbara on steep hills surrounding Los Alamos.

The layer cake analogy, used in naming this wine, comes from the concept of crafting a wine like a cake with rich layers of fruit and mocha.

Layer Cake Pinot Noir Review

For this review I tasted the 2013 vintage of this wine.

I have to admit, it was the wine’s label that caught my attention and led me to purchase the bottle.  Usually, I spend the time to research current trends in wine buying.

But, this time I let the winemaker use the label to draw me in to have my cake and eat it too!  (Or at least open the twist top and pour a glass for this review)

Appearance

Typical of this varietal, Layer Cake Pinot Noir was medium garnet in color.  The wine allowed a fair amount of light to shine through.

It was very leggy in the glass with many thick legs falling slowly down the sides.

Aroma

One of the first things I enjoyed about this wine was the complexity of the aroma.

From afar I got notes of licorice and a little mocha.  Up close there was a pronounced aroma of spicy red fruit.  Coupled with that were surprises of muted juniper and eucalyptus.

There was also a definite whiff of alcohol in the aroma.

Layer Cake Pinot Noir alcohol content 14.5% by volume per the bottle.

I also noticed that the alcohol content was displayed prominently on the label.  Often times you really have to hunt for it as it’s usually hard to find.

Taste

The wine’s taste was less complex then the aroma, but enjoyable none the less.

The texture was light and juicy with flavors of smooth red fruits.  Notable flavors were raspberry and red cherry.

Tannins

The wine’s tannins were gentle and noticed all over the palate.  I specifically noticed a nice juicy and long lasting tingle.

It should also be noted that Layer Cake Pinot Noir is not a dry Pinot.  You get a nice creamy mouthfeel with this wine.

Finish

Finish was long.  It wasn’t carried by the tannins, but more so by the above mentioned flavors.

Overall Opinion

Overall, I really enjoyed this Pinot Noir.  It brought a complex aroma and pleasant flavors to the table.  And, I enjoyed the “tingle” all the way from the aroma to the finish.

The winemaker suggests pairing this wine with smoky meats and rich fish, which sounds great to me!

Layer Cake Pinot Noir price $14.95.

Recommend!