Label of the Month: LotM for September

I’m ahead of myself for this month! Woo!

This month’s label was inspired by my most recent trip to the Willamette Valley, where I sipped stupendous Pinot Noir and reminisced about my time working at Archery Summit as an intern. I first came across this label in a grocery store. It was last year during a time when I had yet to submit any of my own labels for approval by the feds. Yes, ALL alcoholic labels must be approved by the federal and state governments, which have pretty strict regulations about size and type of the label content such as the government warning.

I came across this label and recalled that none of the “Front” label content required by the feds was, well, on the front label. I was astounded how did they get a way with it? And what does M stand for? Oddly enough I just assumed it meant Merlot and walked away to later consult with a liquor control board rep about how this could happen.

A year later, I find myself in the Willamette Valley at Sokol Blosser, and wow! There’s the label. A big swirly M like my six year old best friend Meleah used to practice when she first learned to write her name. This sensual M is overlaid upon the image of a Grecian maiden all on a striking reddish-pink background highlighted by a scalloped, light blue border. The typically contrasting combination of red and blue pair perfectly on the antique green bottle with sloping shoulders, perhaps hinting at the voluptuous nature of the wine or the maiden’s hidden bosom.

Meditrina

But wait, they don’t make Merlot in the Willamette Valley. This is the home of Pinot Noir! How dare they have Merlot? But alas, to my chagrin I find that the M on the label doesn’t mean Merlot at all, it means Meditrina.

And Meditrina, according to Sokol Blosser, means: a perfect marriage of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel that’s juicy, rich and full of fruit. Open a bottle and say “marvelous”, “magnificent” or simply “Mmmmmmm”.

Interesting… I had the privilege to try and purchase the Meditrina {5} or fifth edition of this wine from the tasting room at $15. Meditrina is billed as “An American Red Wine”. Guess that’s because the Zinfandel probably came from California, the Pinot Noir from Oregon, and the Syrah from Washington. It’s a vibrant and young combination of generally unpaired varietals blended in a non-vintage style, meaning some of the wine in the blend is even from different years.

Anyway, check it out Hi! My name is Meditrina. A label full of personality, and an equally personified wine. I approve!