Hip Tastes Blog

The dog days of summer rightly inspire sips of something so altogether light and crisp (not to mention heavenly floral and fruity) as to transport you beyond the scorching hot wherever-it-is you find yourself these HOT days. Enter Riesling. Criminally underappreciated, Riesling is a wine that - when made by a solid producer in a good region - almost always overdelivers. Oh, and the price can be quite nice. Read on for my latest article at WineAnswers.com - powered by the Wine Market Council - where I dish on fav regions (go NY, Mendo, WA!) for Riesling.

Because couldn't we all use a little chill factor these days? Read it here.

Posted by Courtney at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

fomato, a very cool greeting card company I discovered at SF's recent Renegade Craft Fair, does not pretend to be a high falutin' organization. To wit, the company's site says this about its origins: "We are a small greeting card company based in Los Angeles. fomato was formed in 2004 by a group of disgruntled restaurant co-workers." That's it. I like that that's it. But fomato is not small potatoes (sorry, couldn't resist) so far as card companies go.

Need proof? Then check out this cute wine-themed card they were exhibiting at said Craft extravaganza. (I also want to give props to fomato for organizing cards by Occasion, by Subject or...by Creature. The first creature on the list is Alien. The second is Blob. And a category under "Subject" is "Educational Sort Of". Like I said, nice.)

The card 's exterior touts wine's health benefits, narrated by an interesting green, three-eyed blob creature. The copy reads "Get trashed...the healthy way! Vino!" With subtext by another blob, "My arteries could use LOTS of unclogging!" Inside, the plot thickens as a small blob admonishes the big green belligerent blob from the front, "You know you can just eat grapes and get the same health benefits."

Cue sharp intake of breath from green blob (I would imagine). Which of course leads to laughter. Personally, I was totally tickled by the card, since so much has been made of the so-called French Paradox and benefits of drinking red wine. Of course, you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that you can score the same heart benefits (which come from the skins and seeds of red grapes) by drinking grape juice as you do by quaffing fermented alcohol made from grapes. And this fact CAN grate on those of us who enjoy drinking wine regularly and would LOVE to believe it's also some sort of elixir/fountain of youth. You know, it's you, me and the big green blob in this.

However, the truth is the truth, and I love that this card puts it out there so hilariously. I also really enjoy the fact that the big blob, even after hearing the sad truth about this vino, is still pictured making a getaway with two full bottles of the stuff on page 2 (which also, incidentally, reads "Salute / Happy Birthday).

For more fomato drinks cards, click here

PS for more on The French Paradox, check out a book I love, French Women Don't Get Fat, by the very chic (and wine exec-lady!) Mireille Guiliano

Posted by Courtney at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of my fondest memories of an early trip to Burgundy was visiting Chateau de Meursault. Though not one of the most celebrated estates in all of Burgundy (indeed, its initials don't include DR or C), the place is absolutely elegant and I'll always associate the appellation's nutty-rich whites with the property. It helped, as well, that there was a wedding going on that day on the grounds - a gorgeous affair that led me to think it would certainly not suck to get married in Burgundy, at Chateau de Meursault, while (of course) drinking much of the region's celebrated white swill. And until today, it had been a while since I was been transported back to this lush spot.

Today's mental journey was aided, as you might imagine, by a Chardonnay whose body was so fabulously rich and aroma so buttery and nutty (yet fabulously lifted and elegant, as Burgundian whites always are!) that I simply could not help but revisit that very spot. The best part? The wine wasn't even French - it hails from our very own shores, and from the hands of a very fine domestic winemaker: Greg LaFollette (of Flowers Winery fame). Read on for tasting notes for Greg's 2006 Tandem Sangiacomo Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($32).

Fermented using wild yeasts and bottled unfined, the wine is a touch hazy. For tech geeks, from the web site: " Francois Freres Allier forest, medium + toast and 100% sur lies with battonage for 23 weeks...total time in barrel 10 months." Okay, what's it taste like, you're wondering?

Well, on the nose the golden-hued charmer offers up the following: lush, heady notes of pear, bananas brulee, white peach, toast, spice and NUTS: macadamia and cashew explosion. Also exotic white flowers.

The palate delivers moderate acidity (good lift - this is no blowsy over-the-top Chardonnay when it comes to body) and a plush, mouth-coating body. Flavors are of vanilla, banana, pineapple, spice, nuts and toasty oak. It all blends seamlessly and tastes absolutely delicious, and there is an appealing, almost custardy or dessert-like character that runs through it that I understand comes from a bit of Botrytis in the vineyard. In all, it finishes rather crisp (if it can be imagined) and warm and long - and it just gets better the longer it's opened. Definitely a classy white with which to charm that special someone (just decant it first for maximum impact!) or a special treat for yours truly after a particularly harried week. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. And drinks like a bottle at least twice it's price - which is always nice.

Buy it online

Posted by Courtney at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This just in, from my fabulous summer intern, Taylor Price! Twenty-one years old and soon to be a senior at my very own alma mater, UCLA (Go Bruins!), Taylor is enjoying getting to know the world of wine - and cocktails, it turns out - as she lends a hand at Hip Tastes this summer. Read on for her take on the lovely new spirit we've just discovered, LA-based, Swedish-made Pinky Vodka. Because, it turns out, LA turns out a lot more than just fabulous Bruin English majors (it also turns out a lot of great folks from other majors, too). :)

In Taylor's Words:
It's hard to believe (unless of course you hail from the motherland of vodka), that this powerful spirit could be both beautiful and highly enjoyable to sip. Pinky Vodka promises both, and actually delivers!

As the name suggests, this vodka boasts a lovely pink hue and a fresh, floral aroma derived from twelve different botanicals blended into the mix after an intricate distillation process. Flirty and feminine, Pinky brings to mind a flowery, springtime perfume and a modern sophistication not commonly associated with the drink. The sexy bottle features a bright pink and black color scheme (think a trendy LA lounge) and an uber-artsy form worthy of any discerning liquor cabinet. This is definitely vodka aimed at a hip female audience and I could easily imagine it being served at a bachelorette party, a swanky bar, or even just a night in with the girls.

Now to the good stuff-let's talk about drinking! The people at Pinky have been kind enough to compile a list of cocktail recipes all meant to mix brilliantly with the vodka. To taste the full extent of Pinky, I prepared it three ways: Pinky by itself, a Pinky Cosmo, and a Pinky Basil Gimlet. Not being a huge fan of downing vodka straight (who really is?? - wait, don't answer that), I skeptically sipped the stuff and was quite pleasantly surprised. Extremely floral and slightly fruity, Pinky offered a delicate sweetness I've rarely experienced with a flavored vodka. Pinky is almost as enjoyable straight as it is in a mixed drink-what a success!

The Pinky Cosmo:
Drinkable and flirty, the Pinky Cosmo had all the bells and whistles of the original, but with an additional rosy undertone. I preferred this drink with a little extra lime as it does become very sweet with both the cranberry and the flowery vodka. The lime added an extra kick of flavor and tartness which expertly balanced the sweetness. This is a great party drink and sure to be a hit with the girls. And besides, if "Sex and the City" has taught us anything, it is that the Cosmo is the official drink of the sexy, hip female population.

1 1/2 parts Pinky
1/2 part cranberry juice
1/4 part triple sec
Squeeze of lime juice

Stir over ice, adding a squeeze of lime. Strain into a chilled martini class and garnish with a lime twist.

The Pinky Basil Gimlet:
Nothing short of amazing! I was totally floored by this drink and it has definitely earned a place in my list of top 3 favorite cocktails. This gimlet has a complex, almost vegetal flavor with the muddled basil and a tasty kick of lime. Not for the weak-palated, this drink is forward and bursting with flavor. The lime imparts a tart, lively side which covers most of the vodka's sweetness while still remaining highly drinkable. The floral undertone is still present, but delicate and subtle. This cocktail definitely wakes up the palate, preparing it for a flavorful meal or perhaps just another round! Die-hard Cosmo fans might not enjoy this drink with its tarty forwardness, but it is nonetheless a cocktail very worthy of a taste.

3 parts Pinky
Splash of agave nectar
1 part lime juice
4-5 fresh basil leaves
Muddle (crush) the basil in a glass. Add the Pinky, agave nectar, lime juice and ice, Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a basil leaf.

FINAL NOTE: A word to the wise-Pinky is one of those spirits that tastes so good and so clean you can find yourself four drinks deep before you know it. This is not something you want to do if standing up straight, walking in a straight line or talking coherently are your goals for the rest of the evening. 'Right. You've been warned.

Posted by Courtney at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)