01-17-2012 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

This Friday, January 20^th at the Historic Yuma Theatre here in Old Town, Lonely Street Productions and Bad News Blues Bandleader Mike “Johnny Guitar” Blommer present The Blues: From A–Z.  According to the promo, “This live concert performance will examine the origins of the blues from the cotton fields of the south through the juke-joint days of the 30s and 40s, and then lead you into the electric-blues era of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon and Jimmy Reed.  Then we’ll explore how the Blues expanded with musical legends like B.B. King and Buddy Guy, eventually evolving into the modern blues-rock sound of artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and ZZ Top.”
The show brings a cast of top-notch talents from the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame to Yuma, including Johnny Guitar, Alex Flores, “Hurricane” Carla Brownless, Steve Grams, Stefan George, Tom Walbank and more.  It starts at 7:00 PM; reserved seating tickets are $23, available at the Art Center Box Office (373-5202).  Sounds like a great night to come on down to Old Town and get your blues on.  See you down here!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $10.00 to try them all, or
$10.00 for a full glass:

Forefront 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma / Napa )   $15.99
This blend of Sonoma and Napa fruit has a luscious nose of sweet ruby grapefruit and nectarine, edged with intense mineral notes.  The palate offers bright flavors of fresh citrus, melon and pineapple; the lush fruit balanced by refreshing acidity that keeps the rich fruit flavor juicy and light through the crisp finish.
Navarro 2008 Estate Riesling (Anderson Valley)    $22.99
Scents of star jasmine and clover honey lead to crisp flavors of citrus and Pippin apple that developed during the warm Indian summer of October; the cool nights contributed a bracing acidity and moderate alcohol level that keeps the wine clean and refreshing.  A superb Alsatian-styled Riesling, from one of California’s most respected producers of the varietal.
Forefront 2010 Pinot Noir (San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara/Sonoma County)   $21.99
Rich aromas of dark cherries, spiced plums and raspberries lead to an equally complex, intense palate featuring a fine core of black cherry and red raspberry fruit.  Juicy acidity keeps all that rich fruit fresh and appealing.  Silky tannins carry this to a lingering finish.
Domaine de Fondrèche 2006 Nadal (Côtes de Ventoux, France)    $27.99
Nadal is a blend of 45% Grenache, 45% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre grapes, very much in the spirit of a fine Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  The wine opens with a layered plum and cedar wood nose, with hints of spice and sweet fruit.  The palate offers a pure, focused core of black fruits that are sweet and rounded, and a softly cloaking wrap of tannins and charry oak.
Forefront 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley    $19.99
A new label from Napa’s Pine Ridge Winery, this offers voluptuous aromas of blackberry, red cherry and raspberry, accented by darker tones of espresso, peppery spice and a hint of caramel. The palate is similarly intriguing, offering a nice mixture of ripe raspberry and cherry fruit carried on a supple tannic frame.
Ravenswood 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel (Napa Valley)    $17.99
This Napa Zin is robustly ripe and flavorful, with bright aromas of black
raspberries and eucalyptus on the nose leading into a silky, fruity-yet-dry
palate of tangy wild berry and dark plum fruit flavors. Spicy hints of clove, cardamom and cedar mingle on the finish.
NEW ARRIVALS:
Decoy 2009 Napa Red (Napa Valley)    $22.99
Duckhorn’s Decoy Napa Red shows classic Napa Valley fruit notes and a silky, mouthcoating texture.  The aromas offer layers of mocha, raspberry and cassis, with a subtle hint of tobacco.  On the palate, the wine is soft and smooth, with abundant flavors of black currant and plum.
Schloss Vollrads 2010 Dry Riesling (Rheingau, Germany)   $17.99
Schloss Vollrads Rieslings are produced in the drier styles that are most popular in Germany: trocken (dry) or halbtrocken (half-dry) – similar to the Rieslings traditionally produced in France’s Alsace region.  They make superb partners with a wide variety of foods.  This is a crisp, elegant style of Riesling, with fresh aromas and flavors of peaches, pears, and apples.
Marchese de’Frescobaldi 2008 Nippozano Riserva Chianti Rufina (Tuscany, Italy)   $22.99
Marchesi de’Frescobaldi makes this Chianti Riserva on an estate that dates to the 11^th century.  The wine offers aromas of tart cherries and blackberries with hints of leather and spice.  Flavors of red and black currants and dark plums mingle with accents of espresso on a smooth and refined palate.
La Trappe Quadrupel Trappist Ale (The Netherlands)   $12.99
This Quadrupel represents the top of the La Trappe range.  At 10% ABV, it’s a big deep amber beer with a rich, warming flavor.  It’s full-bodied and pleasantly yeasty, with a slight sweetness and a faint touch of bitter hops.  Although delicious when consumed now, it will benefit from years  of aging
in a cool dark place. The flavor of aged Quadrupels is reminiscent of fine
Vintage Port.
Dogfish Head Pangaea (Delaware)    $9.99
Brewed with exotic ingredients from every continent, Pangaea is a lightly spicy ale, packed with a palate-pleasing panoply of rich and complex flavors.  A hint of sweet, tangy ginger emerges first, followed by a caramel
maltiness, but a mild but distinct hoppiness gives this a nice kick at the end.
Cheers!

Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona  85364
928-373-0405

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