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Photo credit: Layer Cake Wines
Layer Cake winemaker Nancy Walker has worked in the wine business for over three decades. After graduating from UC Davis, she honed her skills in some of California’s most popular and respected wineries. Nancy joined Vintage Wine Estates in 2008 and today directs the winemaking of Layer Cake, richly layered wines from the best regions on the planet.
What makes Layer Cake unique?
Most winegrowers focus on one region, and perhaps a few grape varieties. However, Layer Cake takes a different approach, going to the best wine regions of the world for the grapes that put them on the menu. Whether it’s Cabernet Sauvignon from California or Malbec from Argentina, Nancy aims for the ideal expression of this grape variety; not just what’s convenient to grow in one place. It opens up a world of possibilities. Each region is unique, from the seeds to the sun, from the water to the plant cover, as well as a wine-growing know-how passed down from generation to generation. Layer Cake pulls its Primitivo (Zinfandel) grapes from Puglia, Italy, on the heel of the boot along the Mediterranean Sea. Italians have been cultivating this grape since the 1700s, something that can be felt quite clearly in wine.
Which grape is the most popular and why do you think wine lovers respond well to it?
Malbec is one of the most popular grape varieties in Layer Cake. It comes from Argentina, where Malbec – a French grape – was first introduced in the 1700s. Today Argentina produces more Malbec than France due to its sunnier growing season and. drier, as well as limestone in the soil which facilitates drainage. These elements are essential for the successful growth of Malbec, which makes it nearly impossible to achieve the exact same layers of flavor elsewhere on Earth. Layer Cake Malbec has a distinct blackberry taste, followed by notes of cocoa and truffle. It works especially well with salty foods, especially beef empanadas, an Argentinian favorite.
What’s new and coming up?
Another wine to look forward to is the new vintage of Layer Cake Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged in bourbon barrels for three months which, contrary to popular belief, does not give it a whiskey taste. Instead, aging in barrels imparts warm spices and hints of vanilla. Past vintages have been well received by critics, with Wine Enthusiast marking the 2018 vintage higher than any other bourbon barrel aged wine. Layer Cake is particularly excited about the new 2019 vintage as this wine is robust, with deeply concentrated blackberry, richly layered and densely textured red fruits, crushed stone, sage, vanilla, cotton candy. and soft, dusty tannins. Enjoy this full-bodied wine with a daring barbecue or smoked meats, or pair the flavors of vanilla and toasted oak with any decadent dessert.
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This article was produced and paid for by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
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