Bright lettering, funny names, weird words or suggestive pictures are often used by vintners to lure buyers to their wines amid the kaleidoscope of labels that leap out at us when we shop.
We believe Shannon Ridge winery is experimenting with the labeling of their newest wines. Their Vigilance series of wines are adorned with an elegant, gold-colored, shield-shaped label somewhat reminiscent of the Dom Perignon Champagne label.
Now they present us with a new series of wines with labels that are about as far from the simple, elegant, shield-shaped label as one can get. We reiterate, it is not the label but the wine we are interested in; however, it is the label that calls our attention to a particular wine, winery or brand.
Shannon Ridge 2011 Playtime Lake County Red Wine ($13)Since it is a common stereotype that women prefer white wines and men the reds, it is little wonder that the Shannon Ridge 2011 Playtime Lake County Red Wine portrays a well-endowed, bikini clad, attractive young lady on the label. It is also very obvious that the label is a fishing trip and the makers are trolling for male customers. While we do not usually endorse these type of label ads, this one is done with class and is not in any way objectionable, at least to us.
Playtime is a blend of zinfandel, grenache, petite verdot and barbera. A deep ruby color heralds the aromas of Bing cherries, raspberries and strawberries and, lying just in the background, oak, vanilla, dark spices and black pepper.
The flavor mirrors the aroma and then ends in a soft, fruity finish. This is a very interesting wine tailor-made for anything barbecued.
Shannon Ridge 2012 Wrangler Red Blend ($19)I guess it is just us, but we have the desire to pronounce the name of this wine as it would be pronounced by Bugs Bunny’s adversary, Elmer Fudd, “Wangler Wed.” Adorned with a western cowboy rider and horse on the label, this is another wine that seems directed toward men.
This wine, like the others in this series, is a blend. Let's be honest, it is the talent of the winemaker that determines what goes into the blend and up to the public if it will be a success or not. Well, good news, Wrangler Red makes it. The wine is a blend of 45 percent zinfandel and 40 percent syrah with a bit of petite sirah and cabernet savignon for balance. This wine is big in flavor and aroma and displays all of its components' best features.
Shannon Ridge 2011 Lake County Dalliance Red Blend ($20)Another red wine in this series from Shannon Ridge; the plot thickens. This wine is a blend of almost all the common varieties and even some that are not so common, so it covers the entire red wine taste and aroma characteristics. The only way to find out about this wine is to sample it, and we recommend that you do so.
Shannon Ridge 2011 Lake County Dalliance White Blend ($17) Obviously, in deference to the female wine drinkers and probably as an apology for the above three, there is also a white wine in this series. Not taking a chance on further discrimination or condemnation, Shannon Ridge offers its 2011 Lake County Dalliance White Blend, which is made up of a compendium of popular white grape varieties: 60 percent viognier, 20 percent riesling, 18 percent sauvignon blanc and 2 percent chardonnay.
This straw-colored wine offers up the aromas of summer peaches, fresh melon and citrus, which continue on to the flavor and then to the finish. This wine is an almost picture perfect summer cooler and perfect as the main ingredient in a fruit-filled sangria.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and manages ArticlesOnWine.com. He can be reached at frojhe1@att.net.[[In-content Ad]]
