The Desert Wine Guy - 2015 "Little Black Dress" Cabernet Sauvignon

   Hello folks and welcome back to my wine blog. I want to start off by by refreshing you guys on what I am all about. "This blog is dedicated not only of course to wine but to wine that someone from a middle class point of view would be interested in." Today of course is no exception. Today I will be discussing a wine that sells for around $8 at your local store, now THAT'S middle class I would say. Approximately two weeks ago I received an E-Mail from Stephanie Fray of Conundrum Marketing (http://www.conundrummarketing.com/) inquiring if I would be interested in sampling some of the varietals from Little Black Dress wines (http://www.lbdwines.com/). I responded back letting her know that I was very interested and would like to taste both the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon as well as the 2015 Chardonnay varietals. Approximately two weeks later I received a package in the mail with my wines of choice. On my next days off of work I enlisted the videography skills of Mrs. Desert Wine Girl and had a short YouTube video produced (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rw7rq3F_x0&spfreload=10)

Gabrielle Bonheur - Coco Chanel

where I introduced the wines and talk a little bit about them. A little research on the company taught me that LBD is a wine label marketed toward Ladies. Simply the mere name of the company should have told me that but I guess I am a little slow sometimes :) It is a good thing that I have a mystery (Female) wine reviewer on staff who will describe her thoughts concerning this wine. Let me go on now and talk a little more about LBD themselves and their marketing strategy in reference to this label of wines. 

   Little Black Dress (LBD) is actually a label that is owned  by (parent company) Excelsior Wine Company (http://www.excelsiorwines.com/) and backed by Concha y Toro (http://www.conchaytoro.com/?lang=en_us). The marketing strategy of LBD is rather simple and  gears their label and therefore their wine toward Women which to me is a great idea. I think that done correctly this is a market that is looking to be filled. Doing the research and investigation into this strategy they are right on track to accomplish this goal.  It appears that research shows that a wine marketed toward Women is usually geared toward the 21-34 year old age group. I am unaware of whether there is a specific age group that LBD itself is geared for but I see no reason why it would be any different. According to research 26% of  Women say that they like to purchase a wine that is specifically geared toward them.  LBD appropriately hit the shelves in 2006 to mark the 80th anniversary of the introduction of its iconic namesake, Coco Chanel’s (Bagrielle Bonheur) Little Black Dress. Mrs. Bonheur is more famously known for her perfume line of Chanel NO. 5.

Coco Chanel - 1920

   Well now that we have gone a little bit into the company and it's marketing strategy's lets move into the actual review of this Cabernet Sauvignon. I will now turn this over to the "mystery" reviewer for her thoughts on this wine. Good evening everyone. Before you ask the answer is yes, I actually do have a little black dress that is reserved for the times I feel spontaneous myself. Now that I have set your mind at ease as to my qualifications to rate a Little Black Dress I wish to thank The Desert Wine Guy for offering me the opportunity to taste this wine and tell you what I think about it seeing that I have never reviewed a wine before. So the first thing of interest is that LBD still maintains the

closure of a cork on both the red and white wines (even in the white varietals) and I like that. It seems that a lot of inexpensive wines both red as well as white are going away from cork and to screw caps. Both the Desert Wine Guy and I are in agreement here that this is a negative. As for the actual wine itself the first thing I tasted is a taste of Bing Cherry, you know like the cherries you buy at the supermarket when you go shopping. This was like one of those cherries but the ones the ones that are almost kind of like have one more day before they are inedible. This is a different taste from what most would call "fresh" cherries but when it comes to wine, a taste that is superior in my book. So, you say this wine is $9? What I say is good for me because my girlfriends and I will be buying more once I introduce them to this wine. This wine is not what I would consider a "light" Cabernet by any means ALMOST on the medium tasting side. Moving on with the taste of this wine you will notice that there is almost a slight bit of acidity and (believe it or not) some Tannin's that I felt on my

tongue. I know huh? I don't know about you guys guys I cook for the kids a lot and I happen to love Green Pepper and there is a taste of that in my wine along with the super tasting Cassis which kind a sort a really add to the depth of the wine, and yes there is indeed depth to this $9 wine. Girls, let me tell you something. If you have a last minute party or any party really that your friend(s) have just invited you to and you and the girls are "warming up" for the night than this is the wine. A couple of bottles of this wine (around $20 with tax) and my girls and I are set on a good note for the night.  There is a taste of a semi bright tasting cherry, nowhere near as deep as the first cherry that I was talking about but at the same time certainly not a bright, overbearing cherry. I really liked that the sides of my pretty wine glass I was drinking this wine from was just enveloped by this wine and that the sides of glass spread the wine evenly and I thought what wonderful eye candy indeed. I noticed that when I first looked at the wine when I poured it the wine was so pretty but yet very light at the same time. I think that my girlfriends and I could drink this wine for a while as we get dressed and finalize plans while still being able to have a few more drinks at the club

without any worries. To my friends and I this is important because the last thing we want to do is be out of control while trying to have fun. You know girls, on one hand there is the taste of a really deep supermarket cherry that you can only get at the very best organic type store but also seems to be combined with a Brown sugar or Molasses taste which truly mixes it up radically. You know what I also like? I sent a picture of this wine to my best girlfriend and asked her what she thought of just the bottle. She text me back that the "Little Black Dress" name brought memories of what she called a special night between a guy friend of hers and a night (of course) that she actually DID wear that "little black dress" which she never wore again after that night. She also said (after I described the wine) that we had to "warm up" with a few bottles of this wine this Friday. I concur with my friend. Well I think that I did the best that I can do for my first time so I am going to pass the torch to The Desert Wine Guy to finish this off. I really enjoyed the opportunity to do this and yes, I will be buying the wine for this Friday so my girls and I can start off our Friday in style. I also want to thank him for the crash course in wine and terminology used for wine. 

   Well I want to thank the "mystery" writer for her input and for doing this review. If you guys like her writing style please do let me know and I can invite her back. I guess there are times when a Ladies perspective can be more fitting for my audience especially on wine geared toward the Ladies. As far as the wine goes now I must say that I generally agree with her. I think that the cherry note is indeed one of an overripe Bing cherry and of one that is of an almost overdue and time to eat cherry. A deep and yes Molasses type sugar is here and presents itself rather nicely. A deep Cabernet I would not say it is but a light Cabernet it isn't either. This wine does fit the bill rather nicely for kind of a mix of people who are either caught in between a "real" Cabernet and one of not a beginners Cabernet but moderately advanced Cabernet lovers Cabernet Sauvignon. As I am sure you already know, the holidays are almost upon us and with that there are invites to party's, some to dress up in a little black dress for and some to "come as you are" but to me this wine is simply perfect for both and crosses over extremely well. I would differ from our "mystery" writer in the fact that in my opinion that I thought the Alcohol content was initially noted (not negatively) and therefore is certainly capable of sneaking up on you while you are putting on that little black dress so do be careful because the Alcohol content is about average in this wine.

   O.K everyone it is time to wrap this review up now. The very first item of business in the closing is the same as the very first item in the initial part of the review and that is thanking Mrs. Stephanie Fray of Conundrum Marketing. Her contacting me and sending me and my staff this wine to sample really introduced me to a red that I will definitely buy (or have bought for me :) While not a wine that I think will age for more than 5 more tears it is a wine that will certainly surprise any wine lover, both Ladies and guys who is expecting a light wine from looking at the label as well as any real Cabernet  lover who enjoys a fairly decent and medium bodied Cab. I commend also the Excelsior Wine Company,  Concha y Toro, Fetzer vineyards and of course Conundrum Marketing for going the marketing route they did and targeting what appears to be the young to middle aged female professional market. Mrs. Fray I believe that your sense of marketing is right on here and that the direction you are headed with this wine is where you need to be. Now, while our "mystery" writer didn't place a rating on this wine I most definitely will. Before I do though I want to let you know and understand. This wine does indeed crossover between a true medium bodied Cabernet and is very serious an slightly fruit forward but yet powerful nonetheless Cabernet Sauvignon. So......with all this being said now, I am very happily placing this wine at 91 points on The Desert Wine Guy point rating scale.   

                                                                                                          The Desert Wine Guy


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The Desert Wine Guy - 2015 Markham Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

2015 Markham Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

   Good Afternoon wine lovers. Today with the weather still hitting 80 degrees here in Las Vegas (as of November 6) I figured it was still permissible to indulge in a Sauvignon Blanc :) Today's review will be on the 2015 Markham Vineyards (markhamvineyards.com/) Sauvignon Blanc from the Napa Valley, ST. Helena to be exact. Today we are talking about a wine that comes in at 13.8% Alcohol and is 100% Stainless Steel Fermented and finishes with 2.5 months sitting in neutral wood tanks to age. Pretty nice for a Napa Valley wine that costs $12 (https://winelibrary.com/) I would say. On viewing the bottle that held this wine I have to say that it really caught my attention. With a labeling that is an off Yellow / Gold in color and well thought out  fonts of script, this bottle was sharp looking. Adding to what I have just now said is the fact that the actual color of the wine appearing a semi light Golden when viewed thru the bottle standing out against the label, the presentation was rather enticing to say the least. On the pour and in the glass the wine when seen thru a solid white piece of paper displayed itself an ever so slight Golden in color which differed slight from the presentation observed in the bottle itself. A nice presentation for a white that is a blend of mostly Sauvignon Blanc (92%) as well as Sauvignon Musque (a Sauvignon Blanc clone designated as FPS 27) and the varietal of  Semillon at 8%.

Markham Vineyards Stone Cellar

FPS 27

Read more at: http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=69775
Copyright © Wines & Vines) at 18%  and a small amount  (8%) of the varietal, Semillon.

   Moving now to how well the wine presented itself on my Palatte. Upon tasting the first bit of this Sauvignon Blanc I will tell you that this white is very flavorful yet at the same time very light bodied. This is not a "heavy" wine. All of the different notes that I will go over in a minute are very potent yet surprisingly mellow at the same time. I am tasting some sugar here but the structure enforced by the minerality of this wine are really nice and keeps that sugar largely in check only allowing the proper amounts to show thru (no sugar bomb here). I am also noticing that this wine is more appreciated by the sides of your tongue rather than from the main part of the tongue. This is not to say that your entire tongue will not get to appreciate the wine because it will it's just that the wine is better sensed on the sides or off center of the middle. Now, let's dig into the various notes that I promised you. The note I want to talk about now is that of minerality that I have previously mentioned. To me this note is a very forward note to the opening of this wine. This note is almost a stone one and when combined with the next note are exquisite.. The other note that I want to discuss is that of Honeydew Melon that you will taste toward the back of the Tongue and it is sweet but that sweetness disappears quickly and therefore is simply recognized as the varietal of melon that it is. This wine is a wine that makes your mouth water for more. The Kiwi in here is outstanding as well and almost like tasting a mouth watering, fresh Kiwi that you just picked. There's nothing

Markham Vineyard

in here that I would say is "acidic" so to speak and it is the note of Grapefruit that I think ensures that to an extent. It is really amazing just how certain notes (or flavors) seem to hold sway on the levels of other the other notes. As an example the Pear note present helps to maintain the Honeydew to an extent so each note prevents the overdoing of the others. A note of Grapefruit is certainly present as I said and blended expertly with the other notes as well. A very slight hint of Alcohol is noticed on the Palatte but here it is used here to sort of subdue the stone or minerally notes that this wine contains. If you think the discussion of the notes here are done you are wrong. An awesomely placed Lemongrass makes it's presence know here as well. What is so awesome here and I hope not overlooked by you, my readers is that all of the notes are superbly blended with one another at precisely the right point and they exhibit themselves at once. This wine will not cause a pucker in your mouth either as there are no offensive notes whatsoever. Your Palatte seems to say "oh there is.... Oh there is..... and Oh there is..... To me this is a rather unique experience as usually the various notes will sort of line up one behind another in order of appearance or dominance and there will sort of be a noticed break on your Palatte, that is not the case here however. All of the flavors in this wine are equally presented and I like the fact that these types of notes can be presented without any undue acidity. I am not saying that acidity is always bad or can always alter a wine in a bad way, I just thought the talent to present all the notes in the fashion that they are resented without developing a an acidic wine is simply amazing. Now, I am going to admit to you something. There are times when I will look into other reviewers opinions to see what their opinion is of a particular wine. With this wine there isn't any so called "professional" reviews that I could find. There are armature reviews

Our Winemaker - Kimberlee Nicholls

however and they seem to feel that this wine would be rated in the 88-89 point rating. While I will not give away my rating just yet I will tell you that I think they miss the part I mentioned about how lovely the levels of the notes are matched and to exactly what extent on the Palatte they present themselves as well as mesh together. If I have mentioned this previously it is because it is so rare and important and I am truly impressed, job well done guys. This wine presented itself to me more like a Sauvignon Blanc that is grown in cooler climates which exhibit green flavors as opposed to one one that is grown in warmer climates Grapefruit (it is from grapes grown in the Napa Valley). I guess you could say that in reality this is the best of both worlds in reality. One item I would like to add her is that the wine at times APPEARS close to developing some acidity but if you really take the time to examine it you will really see that it never quite makes it to what you can call acidic.

Gewürztraminer is an example of a Musqué grape

   O.K guys, now its that time. Time to wrap this up and put it all together. What a nice and refreshing wine this has indeed been. From the opening straight through to the finish, this wine maintained its consistency, boldness without being ever near being over the top and held to what it was. There was no softening or loss of notes as the wine was opened and exposed to the air. All types of notes that you would classify as "mineral" are present without making the wine too close to or wrapped around minerality. A superb job here by the wine maker I say. If you are looking for a style of food that would go with this wine I would suggest some Sushi that has a nice spicy sauce or perhaps some Chicken that is on the Peppery side but not the lemony side. Perhaps a pasta dish with a sweeter sauce with Italian Sausage would go nicely as well here. So, it is time, time to reveal my score of this wine. While some others have placed it as high as 88 points, I believe that the jump should be made to the next level which is 90 points (Excellent - 90-94 - Wine just blows you away. Just makes you yearn for more) on The Desert Wine Guy Rating Scale.

Front of Markham Vineyards

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                             The Desert Wine Guy


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