Wine lifestyles - Lawer Family's "Hooker" wines

With more than seven thousand wineries in the country, it's becoming more important than ever for brands to strategivcally position themselves and align with certain lifestyles and niche markets. For wine, which crosses into almost any lifestyle you can think of, there are many opportunities.

Take for example, the Hooker Cabernet Sauvignon by Lawer Family Wines. This wine is named after a rugby position, and comes in a hefty bottle that features a classy label that evokes images of family crests with the words "Rugby club" above it. Now, I wouldn't typically associate fine wine with rugby players, but sometimes first impressions aren't always the best ones. When I think of rugby, I might consider alcohol as closely aligned with the sport, but would probably pick a brand like Fosters beer to bring to a party of rugby players.

But this wine is surprisingly good, and has won a Platinum medal for the 2010 vintage. It's a big, full-bodied cab that rings in at 15.4% on the alcohol scale. There's surprisingly little heat, and for a relatively young Cab, it's very approachable, with ripe, round flavors and a lengthy mid-palate.

So, if you know any rugby players and are want to get them a great gift, this might be an option. Or if you just want a great Cabernet. At just $32, it's a great value too.

2010 Rogers Creek Pinot Noir by Garnet Vineyards

Enjoyed the Rogers Creek Pinot Noir in Searsport,

 ME Lobster pound

.

I have had most of Garnet Vineyards' offerings, and really enjoy their Pinot Noirs. The prices are right, and for under $20 you can get the Carneros or Monteray ones, which are quick delicious. When their winemaker, Alison Crowe, told me about this new release - a 2010 Rogers Creek Vineyard Pinot, with a retail of $29 - I had to try it.

For anyone who enjoys Pinot Noir, they know how tough it can be to find a good one for a fair price. With names like Siduri, Kosta-Browne, and William Selyem leading the forefront of premium, expensive versions of this variety, it's refreshing to see Garnet taking a different approach and yet not sacrificing quality.

The Rogers Creek is a special Pinot. It's sourced from a single vineyard, Rogers Creek, and brings a tightly woven mashup of flavors - cherry and plum mix with black earth and hints of oak. The wine could age another year or two easily, and will no doubt become better with a little age, but it's perfectly drinkable now. The alcohol comes in at a reasonable 14.5%, so for all those high-alcohol nuts out there, don't fret. It's nowhere near as big as tthe 15.8% one from Trahan that I recently had.

This is a big bodied, full flavor Pinot for sure. But it's also very smooth, round, and expansive on the palate with a medium finish, and low/med. acidity. Not quite as food friendly as their Carneros version, but delicious nonetheless, and worth every penny - especially considering what some other winemakers sell their single vineyard Roger's Creek pinots for.

This is a limited production wine compared to their other offerings. With just over 400 cases, you can be sure it will go fast. You can find the Rogers Creek Pinot Noir at her website.