Picking Wine by the Label

I read Wine Spectator, and I go to wine tastings. I like to try at least one new wine each week. That said, I am definitely still a novice in the wide world of wine. Time for a little "vino confessiono": I will occasionally pick out a bottle of wine just because I like the label. If I were to design a label, it would have to combine something I like (maybe dogs, or in this case, cake); sound appealing (layer cake -my favorite treat); and be a varietal that I like (Shiraz.) Such is the case with this bottle we tried recently: the Layer Cake Shiraz. I had eyed this one in a local wine shop, and knew I wanted to buy it. Since I was the only one in the shop this particular afternoon, the clerk and I were talking about different wines and regions. When I picked up this bottle of shiraz, he mentioned that this one is flying off the shelves. He said it was the best shiraz under $30 that he has ever had. (It retails for about $16.)

Don't be misled by the label -- this is certainly not a "dessert wine". Filled with hints of blackberry and cherry, this shiraz did not disappoint. Done in a new world style, it wasn't as heavy and "in your face" as some of the big syrahs. Very smooth and velvety. We have had a few more bottles of it since then,and it has become my favorite shiraz. As an added bonus (purists and wine snobs can stop reading now) this is a screwtop instead of a cork -- perfect for those nights when you want to keep a glass to try the following day...although it is rare that we have some left for the next day...

Shown below with a layer cake we enjoyed earlier this week.