After 12 years of sobriety, I consider myself recovered, but only so long as I never take another drink. However, I still consider myself an alcoholic. That is because if I ever take another drink, I have no idea where that would lead. I have no off switch. I will drink until I pass out, and then when I wake up, I'll reach for another drink. That, to me, means I am and always will be an alcoholic.
So far as labels go, anyone can label me whatever they want, but that doesn't mean I have to accept it. I know for a fact I am an alcoholic and I feel no shame being called an alcoholic.