02/14/2012 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:
Happy Arizona Centennial!  100 years of statehood as of today, February 14^th, 2012, aka St. Valentine’s Day.   Here’s hoping the second hundred years are even better for our great state.
Mardi Gras alert:  I want to let everyone know that the Fort Yuma Rotary Club’s annual Mardi Gras Block Party here on Main Street has now morphed into the Yuma Mardi Gras Festival 2012.   The Rotarians describe it as “an all-day event with entertainment all up and down Yuma’s Historic Main Street.”  The Mardi Gras Festival takes place this Saturday, February 18^th
from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM, with musical entertainment by a variety of bands and performers going on pretty much all day, along with lots of other
activities and plenty of food and drink.  So get your beads out of the closet, come on down to Old Town this Saturday and join in the celebration!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $10.00 to try them all, or
$10.00 for a full glass:

Soléna 2010 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley, Oregon)   $18.99
Spicy pear and lime aromas greet the nose, complemented by a subtle floral and honey character.  On the palate, juicy orchard fruit and tangy citrus flavors strike a fine balance between depth and energy.  It finishes fresh and clean, with lingering pear and lime zest tones accented by a crisp mineral essence.
Schloss Vollrads 2010 Dry Riesling (Rheingau, Germany)    $17.99
Schloss Vollrads  specializes in the drier styles of Rieslings 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.
Soléna 2010 Grande Cuvée Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)   $26.99
The 2010 Grande Cuvée exudes aromas of cranberry and raspberry, accented by hints of herbs and licorice. The palate is complex and intriguing, offering rich red fruit flavors and introducing elements of dark plum and black cherry. Vanilla and spice undertones add interest on the elegant, lengthy finish.
Artesa 2006 Elements Red (Sonoma / Napa)     $17.99
This finely crafted blend of the varietals of three great wine regions – France’s
Bordeaux and Rhone Valley, and Spain’s Rioja – offers lively dark cherry, plum, cassis and berry fruit flavors, accented with a spicy blend of cinnamon, white pepper and clove, plus a hint of truffles.  The flavors are true to the aromas, and the texture is supple and smooth.
Marchese de’Frescobaldi 2008 Chianti Rufina Riserva Nippozano (Tuscany, Italy)   $22.99
Marchesi de’Frescobaldi makes this 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.
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.
NEW ARRIVALS:
Larose de Gruaud 2008 Saint-Julien (Bordeaux, France)    $31.99
Larose de Gruaud is the ‘second label’ of the acclaimed 2nd Growth Chateau Gruaud Larose.  It’s a rich and complex Bordeaux from a very solid vintage.  Aromas of black cherry and tobacco leaf mingle on the nose.  In the mouth, a fine core of berry and plum fruit is accented with hints of pepper and herbs, framed by firm tannins.
Groth 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley)    $18.99
This wine was produced with grapes sourced from various microclimates of the Napa Valley.  Fruit from warmer sites in the Valley is responsible for a lush and rich melon/citrus character in both the aromas and flavors. The grapes from cooler vineyard sites impart a solid, crisp backbone, giving it a tangy liveliness that balances out the delicious creaminess achieved from “sur lie” aging.
Decoy 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)    $22.99
Decoy Napa Valley Cabernet is made to be enjoyed upon release.  It’s rich and appealing with fragrant, ripe aromas of mulberry, raspberry and currant.  The plush and inviting palate matches abundant fruit flavors with an engaging spicy complexity.  This supple and approachable wine has a lingering finish, framed by sturdy tannins.
Nostradamus Brown Ale (Belgium)    $11.99
Nostradamus is a rich, complex artisanal Wallonian brown ale. The aroma exudes scents of dark fruits, vibrant spices (think cloves), molasses and sweet, chocolate-y  malt.  It’s full and rich on the palate, with a perfect mixture of malts and dark fruits, complemented by a fine, spice-like zest.
Lumberyard Brewing
Big Rapid Imperial Red Ale (Flagstaff)    $6.99
This is big, flavorful and strong, a beer that balances an aggressive blast of hops with a rich and fruity sweetness.  Caramel-ly malts expand beautifully through the initial bitter layer of hoppiness, along with subtle floral tones.  A deliciously balanced harmony of flavors ultimately prevails, and lingers on…
Cheers!
Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona  85364
928-373-0405

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