Decant Stop Tasting Wine Blog

From the Barossa valley – probably our favorite combination (shiraz). I was pretty pessimistic about the possibility that this wine would actually taste like a layer cake. Much to my surprise, however, it was way layer cake!  A delicious one!  It is rare that I get exited about a wine, and I have never been exited about a restaurant wine. Well here we are at "Pinot Bistro" in Studio City, and I’m excited about this wine that I bought from the menu for a mere 45 bucks. That would still be a decent price for this wine retail, much less at a french restaurant.

The nose is smokey, oakey, and vegetal. With some sweet red fruit. The mouth-feel is soft with a little acidity. It tastes, aside from layer cake, like blackberries, black plum, and black grapes. Some asparagus and a little oak. Totally delicious!  You’d never guess it was 14.9% alcohol.

Rating:  92

Price:  $17 (BevMo)

Fine Wine House:  Dark, brimming with cocoa, fresh blueberry and spice; an abundance of black cherry, dried plum, freshly cut tobacco and coffee dominate the palate. Supple tannins prevail but are nicely integrated. It’s a very pure mouthful of Shiraz. Perfectly structured, zesty acidity carries the flavors over the entire palate penetrating each taste bud. The finish tends to linger for over a minute.

88 PTS WILFRED WONG. Nice and dense, the black-fruited ‘06 Layer Cake spreads its ripe fruit flavors smoothly onto the palate; drinks very nicely; a good choice with grilled beef.