Friday, September 30, 2011

Rockus Bockus, Proprietary Blend 2007





I have entered a new region of wine drinking here, perhaps a different era altogether.  This bottle was numbered, 468.  I have absolutely no idea what the significance of that number might mean, though I suppose I could take a guess.




It was apparently the product of one of the family members from Gundlach Bundschu, Jeff, and another winemaker (Keith), and also an artist (Ben). Their website doesn't provide a whole lot of information about them but the woman at the wine store mentioned the Gundlach connection and that was all that I remembered, or heard.   For what is little more than a good table wine I thought that it was a little bit expensive, around $15.  But it is a good blend, I would try it again.

I'll be honest, I bought it mainly for the label on the front, such is my passion of marketing.  

It is difficult to see the entire label from the front of the bottle, so I've provided two side shots below so that you can see for yourself the divine duality projected.






It is the wine label equivalent of a mullet: work in the front, party in the back. Sort of.  It inverts that simple message and suggests that the working god also gets to party down.  His alter-ego is some sort of naturally bearded holy-hearth-spirit.  It does seem to be trying to appeal to a certain type of person, someone who appreciates the city and the country.  I mean, don't we all...

I didn't even know that Dionysus had an office job...

If you look carefully you'll see two females, presumably friends, both of different races, near the foot of the god of boogie-down moonlit lightning action, engaged in some sort of skirted praise and adoration. Interesting take on gender, presumably a message arriving straight from the Romans.  

On the back label it cites its "Influences" as Coastal Fog, Volcanic Mountains, Steak....  
I mean, don't we all....

Well, I'm sure some of these messages were intentional, like the pine-cone tipped fennel staff.  They were merely trying to project a sense of duty and fun, along with the god-hood of ritual madness and ecstasy, and oh yeah...  the wine harvest. 





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