Tall, dark, and handsome. Handsome? Okay, stunning! Not only is the Breca wine label one of the tallest I’ve seen, it is also a feast for the senses.
It’s hard to decide where to start. The bronze metallic detail of the name and ornate design shines brightly. The top half of the label is braced with a woven pattern expressed in both sheen and texture. The design on the lower half is multi-faceted and intricate. It’s hard to pin down the inspiration. Is it Art Deco? Odd for the region. Is it an abstract expression of location? Fields? Mountainside? Let me know what you see.
Back to the dimensions. How tall is this label? At 157mm (6.25”), it forced me to present it on an angle (a first) to display as much of the label as possible. It could have been shorter if the name, Breca, had been set on a horizontal plane. Running it vertically forced the extension of the dimensions. It is also visually disruptive which forces a viewer to stop to comprehend what they’re seeing.
Tall, dark and handsome. The boldness and tone of this label skews masculine. If this package was a fictitious character it would be Jay Gatsby. The notes on the back label would also most likely appeal to more men than women as they deal with the kind of minutiae that male enthusiasts eagerly devour. I know I’m generalizing here. Certainly, some women would find the information provided to be fascinating. But marketing is about defining and targeting.
What is this wine? One could easily miss the word Garnacha in tiny type running vertically beside the B in Breca. The producer, Bodegas Jorge Ordoñez takes great pride in their Old Vines Garnacha as is evident in those detailed notes on location and terroir. The wine is deserving of praise. It is relatively full-bodied and expresses dark red and black fruit on the palate. For a high ABV wine (15%), it is well-balanced and smooth. The wine delivers what the packaging promises.
