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Happy Hour: Warre's Otima Port 10

partysugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:15:24 PST

With it's warming qualities and syrup-like texture, Port is a great wintertime wine. Warre's Otima 10 Year Tawny Port ($19.99) is my new favorite. It's delightful slightly chilled after dinner. I paired it with dark chocolate, but in the future want to try it with cheese. Otima's goal is to eliminate the usual myth of port being a drink only sipped by dusty old grandmothers. The light wine has a delicate yet full-bodied, well-balanced palate and rich, amber color with reddish undertones. It tastes caramely with hints of dried fruit and nuts. With its long, lush finish and smooth, heady aroma, this award-winning wine proves that port can be contemporary, hip, and perfect for 2009.

Do you enjoy port? What's your favorite bottle?

Happy Hour: Trentadue Chocolate Amore

YumSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:15:20 PDT

Most people know that red wine pairs amazingly with dark chocolate. However, the folks at Trentadue Winery have taken the amazing combo one step further. Their Chocolate Amore ($25) combines red wine with chocolate and is really the best of both worlds. Trentadue uses the traditional port-making technique but stops fermentation in order to trap more sugar. Once the wine is done aging, the winery adds a bit of chocolate extract to enhance the flavor. It's rich and decadent and goes well over vanilla ice cream. But be warned: It's not meant to be guzzled by the glass - I think you'd end up in a dessert coma - but is meant to be enjoyed sparingly.

So tell me, are you interested in trying this wine? Have you ever had a chocolate-infused wine before?

Happy Hour: Pink Port

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:29:31 PST

British retail giant Marks & Spencer has just launched a pink port intended to appeal to women. The wine, which is unimaginatively called Pink Port, is lighter in hue than regular port because it takes a small amount of color from the grape skins. They've decided to test this product out because many folks associate port as a man's drink - much like they wrongly assume whiskey and bourbon are for men only.

I'll admit, I'm drawn to things by their packaging, so I'm sure this would have grabbed my interest. However, unfortunately, according to Guy Woodward, editor of Decanter magazine, the wine's not worth it. He believes it was more like vodka cranberry than port and said:

I suspect they're trying to jump on the rosé bandwagon, but it tastes worryingly close to the alcopop market.

It's a bummer to hear that port marketed towards women is inferior to regular port. Do they think we won't notice if it's bad? What do you guys think? Do you think we even need our own port?

Source

Happy Hour: Quinta de Roriz 2004 Vintage Port

partysugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:30:12 PDT

Last week I was invited to Wine & Spirits magazine's Top 100 Wine Tasting, where I sipped plenty of lush wines and was introduced to many interesting varietals. However, the most exotic wine I tried was the 2004 Single Quinta de Roriz Vintage Port. As this smooth, subtly sweet, full-bodied wine slipped down my throat, I realized we've never featured a Port here!

Port is a dessert wine native to Portugal's Douro Valley and usually served after a meal. I'm not normally a huge fan of Port, but this wine, with its deep purple-black color and fine finish, was incredibly easy to drink. It would pair deliciously with creamy blue cheese, honey, and walnuts. A bottle would also make a wonderful hostess gift.

Happy Hour: Autumnal Equinox

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:28:33 PDT

Yesterday was the first day of fall, or autumnal equinox. This means it's just about time to put away the ice cream maker and pull out the crock-pot. If this is sad news to you, you may need a drink to help you cope. If it's great news, then you may need a drink to help you celebrate. Either way, I've got the perfect one for the occasion. The drink, aptly titled Autumnal Equinox, is a perfect mix of port wine, Grand Marnier, and amaretto. To get the recipe,

Autumnal Equinox
From The Webtender
Image Source

2 oz Port
1 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 oz Amaretto

Fill Old Fashioned Glass with ice.
Pour ingredients into glass and stir.

Print recipe with images | without images Image Source

Charlotte Ronson Fall 2012

Hannah Weil — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:04:45 PST

Charlotte Ronson showed off warm, gorgeous color on an urban-cool collection for Fall 2012. She delivers both sophistication and cool-girl edge in the same breath, working graphic print, slick leather, and a brilliant palette onto slim knits paired with menswear-inspired trousers. We get a little of the designer's après-ski influence on a fresh reinterpretation of Winter knits done in cool camel and yellow. But it's mostly Ronson's eye for balancing downtown street-chic with uptown polish we love; how she gives us both a sharpness and a sense of femininity that's entirely wearable.

Trends: Leather, fur, cutouts, menswear-inspired trousers.
Colors: Black, red, yellow, camel.
Key Piece: The black leather jacket over the femme red pleated dress and tights; the utilitarian tweed jacket with zips and pockets.
Accessories: Lace-up ankle boots, knee-high boots, black pumps, black and white tights, leather gloves, and Ronson's new collection of handbags.
Who Would Wear It: The modern urban girl who craves the cool factor with polish; Ronson fans like Whitney Port and Nicky Hilton.

Rachel Comey Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:30:27 PST

Rachel Comey showed us her sophisticated side for Fall '12, streamlining her usual quirk factor with a modern, refreshing twist. "Normally for Fall we dive into print and pattern and color," said Comey. "This time, I pulled all of that out and cleared the air." With that in mind, the designer showcased laser-cut cotton dresses and wool felt tops, digital-print knee-length skirts, pretty prints, and shiny boxy leather tops. Color pops included an oversized bright orange coat and dress and even a heart-print dress doused in hot pink. Comey's shoes, a cult favorite amongst many, included quirky-cool black-and-white cap-toe loafers, flatforms, and chunky ankle boots. To finish, Comey closed out the show with an array of cocktail-appropriate black dresses, ranging from a simple, slinky halter-neck LBD to a shimmering full-skirted version. More details on the collection below.

Trends: Laser-cut tops, full-skirt dresses, metallic, digital and watercolor prints.
Colors: Black, gray, hot pink, bright orange.
Key Piece: Rachel's laser-cut tops and dresses exuded a light structural quality we can't wait to try on come Fall '12.
Accessories: Black-and-white cap-toe loafers, flatform boots, clear plastic skinny belts, sheer metallic socks.
Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave quirky yet sophisticated pieces like Kate Bosworth, Whitney Port, and Leighton Meester.

HP Envy 14 Spectre Gets Priced at $1,400

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:47:38 PST

The HP Envy 14 Spectre was arguably the most fetching ultrabook at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, and we finally know how much damage it will do to our bank accounts. The HP Envy 14 Spectre will be available Feb. 17 and priced at $1,400 to start.

The base model Spectre comes stocked with a 14-inch HD+ Radiance Infinity LED-backlit display and backlit keyboard, a 128GB SSD hard drive, Bluetooth connectivity, a TrueVision HD webcam, Gorilla Glass top fused to a black-and-silver aluminum body, and 9.5 hours of battery life. Supported ports include mini-DisplayPort, HDMI, USB 3.0, and an SD/MultiMediaCard reader. HP also developed HP CoolSense, which keeps your machine running cool even after long hours of use, so you won't suffer from the dreaded laptop burn on your legs.

What do you think of the HP Envy 14 Spectre - worth the price tag at first glance?

Whitney Port Went Red

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:06:06 PDT

Whitney Port is the latest to join the legion of celebrities who've traded in their usual hair for a more titian hue. Like Blake Lively before her, she's chosen a light copper shade with apricot tones in it. Because it's close to a strawberry blond, it's not as harsh a change. Do you like the shade on her, or do you think she's better off with something a little less fiery?

Robert Downey Jr. and His Wife Welcome Baby Exton Elias!

Lauren Turner — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:40:54 PST

RDJ and his wife Susan welcome a son! - People
Do the Patriots players' wives have problems with Gisele? - Lainey Gossip
Modern Family stars celebrate the Prop 8 ruling - HuffPost Entertainment
Listen to Brandy and Monica's musical reunion - D-Listed
Thandie Netwon hits the red carpet in a bright blue one-shoulder number - JustJared
Whitney Port scores a new TV gig - Insider
Stacy Keibler parties in Vegas without George Clooney - Zap2it
Unrealistic onscreen couples like Emma Stone and Jonah Hill - The Frisky
Why is Maria Menounos wearing a bikini outside in NYC? - Hollywood Tuna
RHOBH's Taylor Armstrong defends her new book - The Daily Beast
Lindsay Lohan poses for Terry Richardson - TooFab
Are Zac Efron and Lily Collins dating? - Pink Is the New Blog
The latest star to admit a crush on Ryan Gosling - The Superficial
Kim Kardashian isn't looking to date a football player - Amy Grindhouse