01/31/2012 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

Our brief Yuma winter appears to be pretty much over, and there’s plenty going on around Old Town in the out-of-doors this weekend for folks to enjoy the beautiful weather of late.  This Friday-Sunday, February 3^rd – 5^th, the annual Yuma River Daze Arts & Crafts Festival takes place on the Main
Street Plaza here in Historic Downtown.  Lots of cool hand-crafted stuff to browse, and live music performances on Saturday and Sunday.  Also this weekend, the Two Rivers Renaissance Faire will be happening at the West Wetlands Park, just a short distance west of downtown by the Colorado River.  Lots of music, food, and the fun of a medieval village marketplace.  Admission is $7; $4 for kids.  For the schedule and more info, check www.tworiversfaire.com.
But keep in mind there’s still some great stuff to do indoors, especially wine tasting at the Cellar!

THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $10.00 to try them all, or
$10.00 for a full glass:
Laetitia 2009 Estate Chardonnay (Arroyo Grande)    $17.99
This Central Coast Chardonnay delivers deliciously ripe pineapple, spicy vanilla, pear and green apple flavors. On the palate, it shows a silky elegance that underlies all the lush tropical fruit, accented by toasty, spicy vanilla notes from barrel aging.
J J Prum 2007 Riesling Kabinett, Graacher Himmelreich (Mosel Valley, Germany)    $25.99
Prum’s 2007 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett walks a fine line between the
ethereal and terrrestrial, sailing across the senses with pear and tangy citrus
notes and following up with complex mineral and slate elements.  Despite a dollop of juicy tropical fruit at the finish, this Riesling’s acidity and structure will let it live to a ripe old age…
Buena Vista 2007 Pinot Noir (Carneros)    $18.99
Buena Vistas’s ‘07 Pinot Noir offers aromas of bright Bing cherry, fresh-ground nutmeg and earthy wild mushrooms.  On the palate, intense, ripe
blackberry and plum fruit mixes with undertones of sweet mocha and clove.  It’s a wine of surprising depth, with the supple finish that’s a hallmark of Carneros Pinot.
Renato Ratti 2009 Nebbiolo d’Alba Occhetti (Piedmont, Italy)
$21.99
This single-vineyard Nebbiolo opens with a delicate, alluring bouquet of red raspberries and strawberries. The palate displays the classic varietal characteristics of juicy red cherries accented by complex accents of dried
herbs, earth and cedar, carried on an elegantly smooth and silky tannic frame.
Amalaya 2009 Vino Tinto de Altura (Calchaquí Valley,
Argentina)    $14.99
This opens with aromas of roses and violets, followed by a red fruit profile of
cherries and strawberries plus hints of white pepper. The flavors are similar,
with juicy plum and berry fruit wrapped in a sweet, earthy background.  The palate is smooth and full-bodied, with a lingering finish.  75% Malbec, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tannat.

Sterling Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) $24.99
This Napa Cabernet shows expressive aromas of spicy black cherry and ripe blackberry, with light hints of cedar and mocha.  The mouthfilling flavors of juicy black and red fruits laced with clove and allspice, hang on through the lengthy finish.  Silky, ripe tannins structure the wine and contribute to a smooth, plush texture on the palate.
NEW ARRIVALS:
Revelry Vintners 2009 The Reveler (Columbia Valley)    $19.99
Revelry Vintners Reveler brings in the lesser used traditional Bordeaux blending varietals (Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec) as the featured grapes in the blend, with a new line-up every vintage.  Cabernet Franc is the lead actor in 2009, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot adding both richness and depth.
Praxis 2010 Viognier (Russian River Valley)    $17.99
This opens with lush scents of peach and pear fruit, mixing with hints of orange blossom. The enticing aromas introduce a similar flavor profile, well
enhanced with a silky-smooth texture and a mouthwatering lime-zest finish. It superbly melds the fruit with light floral tones to make a distinctive, stylish,
and superbly elegant white wine.

Robert Craig 2009 Howell Mountain Zinfandel (Napa Valley) $52.99
A small production Zin (640 cases) from the Black Sears Vineyard high up on Howell Mountain.  It’s fantastically complex – way more than just big, jammy fruit – with rose petal and floral aromas that blend seamlessly with dark raspberry fruit on the nose.  Hints of black and white pepper add kick to the sumptuous black-fruited palate which is complemented, but not overpowered by overtone of cloves, cinnamon and vanilla.
DeProef Saison Imperiale Farmhouse Ale (Belgium)    $9.99
Saison Imperiale was created as a bolder, more flavorful interpretation of a Belgian saison, or ‘farmhouse ale’ style.  Fermented with two different yeasts, it has a mildly earthy character, combined with fruity and spicy elements and a touch of caramel richness.
The Bruery Tradewinds Tripel (Orange County)    $9.99
Trade Winds Tripel is a Belgian-style Golden Ale with a Southeast Asian twist.  Instead of using the candi sugar typical in such a beer, rice is added to the mash to lighten the body and enhance its gravity.  It’s spiced with Thai Basil to give it a deliciously exotic edge.  The result is an aromatic, complex beer that’s made for a lazy summer evening.
Cheers!
Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona  85364
928-373-0405

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