04/03/2012 Newsletter
Greetings from the Wine Cellar:
Since the Wine Cellar began carrying high-end imported and American craft beers this past six months, we’ve been inundated by requests from Cellar regulars for a beer tasting event. Okay already, we’re gonna do it! We’ve picked Saturday, April 21st as the date for the Cellar’s inaugural beer tasting. As with our weekly wine tastings, we’ll select six of our world-class beers to sample. My good buddy Art Everett, local chef extraordinaire, will prepare an array of beer-centric goodies to go along with the chosen brews. We’re still woprking on the details, so stay tuned and more info will be forthcoming. In the meantime, don’t forget our weekly wine tasting!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $10.00 to try them all, or
$10.00 for a full glass:
Markus Molitor 2008 Riesling Kabinett Zeltinger Sonnenuhr (Mosel Valley, Germany) $18.99
This is a surprisingly rich style of Kabinett, offering enticing aromas of
apricots, peaches, pears and floral essences on the nose. The palate is richly creamy and beautifully layered, imparting a savory, almost saline quality to the medley of apple, grapefruit and peach flavors. Mineral tones and mouthwatering acidity support the lingering, buoyant finish.
Kenwood 2010 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) $17.99
Russian River Valley soils combined with the nearby Pacific’s foggy
influence makes ideal conditions for growing great Pinot Noir. Fruit-forward aromas of raspberry and black cherry mingle with spicy hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. The palate exhibits bright acidity, with a smooth texture and a lingering finish.
Campo Viejo 2004 Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain) $14.99
To qualify as a Rioja Reserva, this wine was aged for 18 months in American oak barrels, and then for another 18 months in the bottle prior to release. This is a “textbook” Reserva from one of Rioja’s finest producers, offering juicy cherry and plum fruit on a silky texture.
Veramonte 2009 Primus Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley, Chile) $19.99
The Primus opens with a nose of ripe blackberry fruit, plus a subtle note of lightly toasted oak. In the mouth, rich layers of crushed dark cherry and cassis fruit are well-integrated with toasty oak and smoky spice notes, carried on a smooth and elegant tannic frame.
Tablas Creek 2010 Patelin de Tablas (Paso Robles) $22.99
Patelin de Tablas is a blend of four estate-grown Rhône varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Counoise. The red raspberry fruitiness of
Grenache is balanced by the black fruit tones of Syrah, along with earthy and
spicy notes from Mourvedre and Counoise. It’s juicy and rich on the palate, with an elegant finish.
Zenato 2007 Valpolicella Ripassa (Veneto, Italy) $29.99
This opens with aromas of juicy black plums and coffee-scented spice. In the mouth, a ripe core of juicy currant and black plum fruit is accented with elements of spice and toasted oak. It’s a rich and mouth-filling red, with fine, fruit-drenched tannins and a clean, lingering, mineral and spice finish.
NEW ARRIVALS:
Penfolds 2008 Bin 2 Shiraz-Mourvèdre (SouthAustralia) $14.99
The Penfolds Bin 2 was introduced way back in 1960. Penfolds winemakers always loved Mourvèdre for its fantastic ability to blend marvelously with Australia’s favorite varietal, Shiraz. The Bin 2 offers luscious complexity and palate grip, with a spicy savoriness from Mourvèdre that complements the plush richness of Shiraz.
Robert Craig 2009 Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) $49.99
Power and grace define this classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, from Robert Craig’s own estate vineyard in the foothills south of Stags Leap. Varietal black and red fruit flavors float across the palate, mixed with touches of espresso, dark chocolate and hints of violet and licorice. A fine mineral component echoes the foothills heritage.
Ornellaia 2009 Le Volte (Tuscany, Italy) $27.99
Le Volte is the “second wine” of Tuscany’s renowned Ornellaia. It’s a Super-Tuscan blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 release offers rich, intense fruit and spice notes, with no trace of over-ripeness. The palate boasts a supple and velvety mouthfeel, with fine tannins and a lively acidity.
AleSmith Brewing Speedway Stout (San Diego) $12.99
Speedway is a huge Imperial Stout to start with, and then it’s amped up with pounds of coffee for an extra kick. It’s jet black in color with a creamy off-white head. It opens with a rich coffee and dark chocolate sensation, then leads on to a multitude of toasty/roasty/caramel-ly malt flavors. It’s super full-bodied and mouth-filling– a treat for the taste buds!
Ommegang BPA Belgian-style Pale Ale (Cooperstown, New York) $9.99
The BPA is Ommegang’s interpretation of a true Belgian-style Pale Ale. Copper-gold in color with entrancing effervescence, the BPA forms a substantial, fluffy white head, full of aromas of tropical fruit and citrus. Intriguing herbal/bitter notes from the hops never overpower the balanced malt backbone, and allow the “estery” tones of theyeast to shine through.
Cheers!
Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona 85364
928-373-0405
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