If you’re familiar with the Dan Brown movie, The Da Vinci Code, you might recall a scene that required solving a cryptex puzzle. The puzzle was a cylinder fashioned from brass with marble rings. Each is engraved with the entire alphabet. To solve the puzzle, the rings need to be rotated to a specific alignment. A cryptex puzzle is the inspiration for the Unshackled wine label.
Discovering the name Unshackled is a puzzle in itself although relatively easy to solve if notice the aligned letters running vertically at the middle of the label. You might also note the words California, Cabernet, Sauvignon, and the vintage. The brass rings, bordered in iron, make for a handsome and unique package.
As cool as the label is, the name Unshackled has great appeal on its own. “Freedom is a state of mind”. You have to look hard to discover this phrase that’s printed black on black on the back label. Freedom is what we all seek. Regardless of how you define it. The emotional connection is strong. True story. I purchased this wine two years ago to celebrate the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Are we there yet?
Unshackled is produced by The Prisoner Wine Company. It’s a great brand extension. The Prisoner wines are a story in themselves. Their packaging is the antithesis of what you would expect to market premium wine. Yet the brand is iconic and popular.
A friend gifting the new 2021 release reminded me that I still had the 2018 vintage in the cellar. Pandemic? Over or not it was time to pop this cork and write this review. Surprisingly, I found the wine to be a bit restrained at first. It does open up over time. Perfectly on brand.
Coincidentally, this is the second wine reviewed recently that employs a cryptex puzzle in its brand story. Check out the video of Phantom Chardonnay to see the interactive AR that requires the viewer to solve the puzzle before advancing to the main content.
