Little Black Dress – A Mia Culpa

Ok, so we didn’t get it right. We thought that a wine label titled “Little Black Dress” was silly, out of place and would turn off buyers. We did not know that the name would prove to be elegant, as is the wine and would reinforce the words of some old Englishman about “what’s in a name.” We will therefore, as a mea culpa, take a look at the latest vintages of Little Black Dress wines, all of which are more than well worth their cost.

Little Black Dress 2009 California Chardonnay ($10.99). This wine is just too bright and happy to be believed. It seems to envelope you with big fruit aroma and flavor. It’s a full-bodied wine, heavy with the aromas of dark summer fruits, vanilla, and oak. All of these aromas are continued into the flavor with the added sensation of big, ripe, raisins. Unlike many other wines of its type, there is a long and fruity finish that lasts in the mouth for long after it has been swallowed. This may not be the wine for wine snobs (it’s not expensive enough) but it certainly can fill the bill anyplace a grand dry white wine is called for.

Little Black Dress California 2008 Merlot ($10.99). The Little Black Dress Merlot is a soft, smooth and very flavorful wine that can accompany a broad spectrum of foods or standalone as an aperitif. This is a bright ruby colored wine that exhibits dark cherries and black plums as the prominent flavor. There is also the telltale merlot background of cedar and oak with just a hint of vanilla. This is the perfect accompaniment for beef and lamb dishes as well as a host of grilled foods and it is also a fine choice for grilled or blackened fish. Like all of the Little Black Dress wines, it is easy to afford and even easier to enjoy.

Little Black Dress California 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($10.99). This Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine made for immediate drinking. There are none of the harsh tannins, the element that gives many red wines a mouth puckering effect and the fruit is up front. Those up front flavors are of big, black cherries and red berries with a pleasing under-flavor of oak. Because of its bright and fruity flavor this wine is not restricted to the traditional fare that is reserved for other Cabernet Sauvignon wines. This wine will go with any of the grilled or roasted meats, cheeses and vegetable dishes. It is also a perfect accompaniment for any of the Italian style foods.

Little Black Dress 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($10.99). Sauvignon Blanc grapes can produce wines in the California style, stressing melon and citrus flavors as well as wines in the classical European style, with a herbaceous (grassy) flavor. The Little Black Dress 2009 Sauvignon Blanc lives in both worlds. It has the classical grassy component which is held in check so that the California full fruit style becomes prominent. This effect allows the Little Black Dress Sauvignon Blanc to be served with a wide spectrum of foods but is a standout with shellfish. The wine can also accompany poultry and the lighter meats as well as any form of seafood. The quality of this wine belies its very reasonable price.

Little Black Dress 2010 Riesling ($10.99). Riesling is the famous white wine of Germany where, for centuries, it has reigned supreme. The grape has found a new home in Monterey County, where it grows magnificently and produces memorable wines. The Little Black Dress 2010 Riesling offers a superb treatment of the grape variety. It is a very enjoyable wine that exhibits a broad spectrum of flavors and aromas with peaches, apricots, pineapple and apple being the most apparent. The fruit acid is finely balanced and adds a modest background of citrus. This wine can accompany all of the lighter summer meals and is a perfect wine to serve as an aperitif when company comes.