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Layla Vineyards

Layla Vineyards wines hail from Argentina's Mendoza Valley - considered one of the world's premier wine growing regions. Mendoza is nestled right at the foothills of the Andes Mountains. All vineyards for Layla wines are a minimum of 30 years old - great wines come from great grapes and the best grapes come from mature vines. Equally, all grapes for Layla wines are hard harvested in the middle of the night and put into small baskets to ensure that only whole grapes are pressed at the winery -- so the very best of the grape finds its way into the wine at the right temperature. No premature fermentation from machine pricked grapes and no baking in the sun. All Layla wines are Mevushal for your convenience and certified kosher by the O-K. All three wines below are from the 2006 vintage. Popularly priced to enjoy every day.

Layla wines are produced in today's popular New World style - fruit-forward wines that work on their own and also pair nicely with the multi-ethnic, diverse cuisines that are so ubiquitous these days. Layla wines were produced to be enjoyed with Mexican, Cajun, Japanese, Thai, and Asian cooking along with steaks, ribs and barbeque. They equally compliment traditional Jewish cooking such as brisket and cholent.

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Layla Pinot Noir

A supple and smooth medium-bodied red wine with notes of blueberries and blackberries evincing a pleasing fruitiness along with a light finish typical of this grape type. Enjoy with poultry, veal and sautéed dishes including fish entrees in sauce. Grapes for new Layla Pinot Noir come from the Agrelo vineyards in Mendoza's Luján de Cuyo sub-appellation. The vineyard is at 980 meters above sea level and is fed by drip irrigation. The vines are 35 years old and everything is hand harvested at night and placed in 20 kg. baskets. The soil is fine sandy loam. The region experiences scarce annual rainfalls.

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Layla Malbec

A pleasant balance between tannins and fruitiness makes Malbec a great option for both Cabernet and Merlot lovers. Malbec has some of the best characteristics of each. Smooth and hearty at the same time. Give 15-20 minutes of air prior to serving. Very nice with barbequed beef, veal or lamb ribs and dark meat poultry. Also good with Tuna steaks. The return of Layla Malbec has been well worth the wait. The grapes come from the Vistalba Vineyards, Luján de Cuyo sub-appellation of the Mendoza Valley grown high at 1,100 meters and the vines are 45 years old. The soil is sandy clay. Drip irrigation is used to mitigate the sparse annual rainfall.. The 45 year-old vineyard produces 95 kg per hectare.

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Layla Semi-Sweet Cabernet

This is a whole new spin on traditional Cabernet Sauvignon. Hearty ripe fruitiness married to noticeable sweetness makes this a midway point between a dinner and a dessert wine. Equally at home with red meats, dark meat poultry such as turkey, duck or goose. Try with cholent and kugels. Great with chocolate and desserts. Layla Cabernet Sauvignon achieves a semi-sweet profile with higher levels of residual sugar retained by freezing the fermentation. Grapes are grown in the Maipu sub-appellation of Mendoza at an 970 meter elevation. A delightful new twist on Cabernet. Both wines are hard harvested at night from 38 year-old vines.

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Reviews

RATING
4
out of 5
Layla Malbec 2006
"I've had just one Malbec before that I can recall, the Valero Malbec from the same region of Argentina, that was quite soft and unassertive. I was expecting more of the same with this bottle.

I was taken by surprise by a full bodied, very assertive wine that was quite dry. This wine should be considered in the same class as a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot and will make a nice change of pace. The wine went well with a very spicy poultry dish and should go well with meats as well."

KosherWineReview
April 2008

RATING
4
out of 5
Layla Pinot Noir 2006
"This wine is a bit young; if you take a sip as soon as you open the bottle, the bite will remind you to give the bottle some air.

After a while the wine settles into something nice and dry with a good flavor, and in fact the wine did better than some Pinot Noir wines I've tasted at twice the price. I did not notice, at least in this tasting, any of the characteristic notes of cherry or berry that I associate with the very best Pinot Noir wines, but I was perfectly willing to forgive the wine. I have good hopes for this vintage as it continues to age but I will certainly drink it today."

KosherWineReview
April 2008

RATING
4
out of 5
Layla Semi-Sweet Cabernet
"This wine is very different indeed: a semi-sweet — as opposed to dry — Cabernet Sauvignon. I wasn't certain this wine would work, but after a few tastings it's clear that the wine is a winner.

At first we tried this wine at room temperature (not chilled at all), and the the flavor was a bit odd; not distasteful but with a clash that was hard to define. I next invited some friends to come by, and each time I pulled the bottle from the refrigerator. People who enjoy sweet wines enjoyed the wine very cold; people who enjoy dry red wines found it sweet but not overpowering.

In all, this wine is an interesting contribution to the art of winemaking, and it will certainly find its niche.

I recommend this wine be served chilled, as you would chill a white wine. I also recommend that you try it as it warms up to determine the point that correctly balances the flavor and the sweetness; too much chill suppresses all but the sweetness, while too little chill fails to enhance the sweetness correctly."

KosherWineReview
April 2008

RATING
B-
Layla Semi-Sweet Cabernet
"With lower transportation and labor costs, free-trade agreements and better exchange rates, South America continues to produce some of the most affordable kosher wines. While most South American kosher wines tend to be simple and rustic in style, they are often good value for the money.

One of the newest South American wines to make it into U.S. stores is the 2006 Layla Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mendoza region of Argentina. Light-garnet in color, this simple, semi-sweet, medium-bodied wine has a faint nose of cherries and lavender, and a grapy flavor with elements of cherries and fruitwood. Although somewhat lacking in balance, this wine represents an affordable semi-sweet red wine. Drink it now through 2009."

Gamliel Kronemer in The N.Y. Jewish Week
April 2008

 
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