01-10-2012 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:
This weekend, more than a dozen Old West re-enactment groups from as far away as Colorado and Oklahoma ride into town for a showdown at the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park here in Old Town.  The 14^th
Annual Gathering of the Gunfighters isn’t really hot lead – it’s just
lots of fightin’ words and old-school acting from regular folks portraying
outlaws, lawmen, saloon gals and a veritable cornucopia of disreputable
characters from the Old West.  Western lore unfolds in person with lots of shoutin’ and shootin’ – and some prolonged and dramatic deaths (make-believe only!)  And while there weren’t very many actual gun battles at Yuma’s Territorial Prison, the setting adds to the fun.
The admission price – $7 for those 14 and older, $2 for kids age 7-13 and free for ages 6 and younger, includes the re-enactment competition and full access to the prison, along with vendors of vittles, libations and Western wares and wear.  Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday, with the re-enactors taking turns presenting 20 minute skits throughout the day.  The weather’s great – come on down to Old Town and enjoy the show!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $10.00 to try them all, or
$10.00 for a full glass:

Cadaretta 2009 SBS (Columbia Valley)    $19.99
Cadaretta’s SBS Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend is a wine designed to be enjoyed in its youth: it’s crisp, fruity and bracing.  The nose is intense, with pear and lime scents and a backdrop of honeysuckle.  A rush of juicy acidity greets the mouth with a mix of tangy lime zest and clean, ripe stone fruit flavorss like white peach and apricot.
Chalone Vineyard 2009 Estate Chardonnay (Monterey)    $22.99

Chalone’s Estate Chardonnay offers fragrant aromas of ripe pear, green apple, hazelnut, vanilla and baking spice.  Bright fruit flavors glide across the supple palate supported by toasty oak tones and a rich, creamy texture.  The vineyard’s limestone soils impart a fine, clean minerality that persists nicely through the finish.

David Girard 2009 Grenache (El Dorado County)    $19.99
This begins with a classic bouquet of red raspberries, white pepper and  herbes de Provence.  On the palate, a delicious mix of red raspberry fruit and savory licorice tones are carried on a smooth, balanced tannic frame. The fruit stays wonderfully vivid all the way through the spicy finish.

Simi 2007 Merlot (Sonoma County)    $17.99

This is an elegant and well-structured red, offering appealing aromas of currant and dried herbs on the nose.  The palate is packed with lasting flavors of plum and black cherry, edged by complex tones of cedar, leather and toasty oak that are framed with polished tannins.
Luigi Righetti 2007 Valpolicella Ripasso Campolieti (Veneto,
Italy)     $18.99

Campolieti is a traditional Veneto blend of Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella grapes.  It’s a full-bodied, velvety and harmonious red, with an enticing bouquet of dark cherry fruit and cinnamon-tinged spice.  It offers a rich, sumptuous palate of ripe black cherry and plum fruit, accented with hints of dark chocolate and toasted almond.

Capafons-Ossó 2004 Sirsell (Priorat, Spain)   $24.99
Produced from Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mazuelo and Syrah grapes that were fermented separately and aged 12 months in oak, this delicious Priorato jumps from the glass with rich black olive and dark cherry aromas.  In the mouth, pure blackberry and dark plum fruit is edged by a terrific slate minerality, giving this wine an amazing elegance despite its substantial structure and richness.

NEW ARRIVALS:

Sterling Vineyards 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley)    $12.99

Zesty grapefruit, citrus, fig and melon tones highlight this Napa Sauvignon Blanc, made with fruit sourced primarily from vineyards in the northern area of the Valley.  The grapes were cool-fermented in stainless steel to capture their vibrant character, and it was was aged in older neutral oak barrels for the balance to enhance the wine’s silky texture.
Conn Creek 2006 Anthology (Napa Valley)    $29.99

The 2006 Anthology is rich, smooth and elegant.  Richly concentrated cherry and cassis flavors are brought into focus with elements of cedar and spicy vanilla. This vintage is graceful yet shows both power and depth, with seemingly endless berry and spice flavors on the lingering finish.
Mochetto Pink Moscato (Puglia, Italy)    $14.99
Mochetto is a unique blend of Moscato and Brachetto grapes. The result is a light, sweet and lightly effervescent Rosato styled wine.  The Moscato contributes deliciously ripe and intense fruit flavors, and the Brachetto adds richness and depth.  It has delightful aromas and flavors of peaches and berries, with a hint of rose petals on the finish.
DeProef La Grande Blanche White Ale (Belgium)   $9.99

La Grande Blanche (“the big white”) is a bolder expression of a traditional Belgian witbier.   A beautiful hazy gold in color, the beer offers spicy, floral and fruity aromas, and a soft, creamy and wheat-y palate.  It finishes with hints of coriander and citrus, and a pleasantly bitter spicy/hoppy note.
Cheers!
Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona  85364
928-373-0405

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