09-13-2011 Newsletter
Greetings from the Wine Cellar:
Hopefully everyone’s surviving our stormy weather and power blackouts of late – weather (and utilities) permitting, here’s what’s going on in Old Town this week:
Friday, September 16th from 5:00 to 10:00 PM, Yuma Fine Arts Association presents “Celebrating Yuma” and “Digital Delights” at the Yuma Art Center (254 S. Main). It’s being billed as “live art – an outstanding assemblage of street art by local artists in exhibit and installation, accompanied by live music, dance performances and MORE!” Hey, it sounds innovative and pretty darn hip, and admission is free – you can’t beat that!
And speaking of hip, the following night, Saturday September 17th at 7:00 PM, Jazz of Yuma presents their annual Hip Hop Dance Festival at the Art Center. Yuma’s own Tricia Miranda plus several other master dancers & choreographers in the Hip Hop industry will perform. Tickets are $15, available at Dawn’s Dance Studio or on-line at www.jazzofyuma.com. For more info, call Dawn at 329-6858.
And of course, there’s one thing you can always count on, even when the weather’s crazy and the power’s out – great wines being poured at the Wine Cellar. Here’s this week’s line-up:
THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $5.00 to try all six, or $5.00 for a full glass:
Van Duzer 2008 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley) $17.99
On the nose, this Oregon Pinot Gris delivers an initial impression of restrained pineapple, peach, apricot and star fruit aromas on top of a clean, flinty note. The palate offers assertive flavors of stone fruits and citrus, plus a finely etched minerality that frames the crisp finish.
Brassfield 2007 Serenity White (Lake County) $12.99
Serenity is a flavorful blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer and Semillon. The wine opens with honeydew melon aromas plus a touch of fresh mint. Juicy tropical fruit flavors are balanced by a crisp, palate-cleansing acidity that carries to a wonderfully clean finish.
Castello D’Albola 2007 Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy) $15.99
This Classico begins with fresh black cherry aromas mixed in with hints of leather, earth, plums and violets. The palate is medium in body, with supple tannins and brisk acidity. Classic Chianti flavors of ripe black cherries and plums are accented by a hint of licorice.
Pascual Toso 2009 Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) $11.99
The ’09 Toso leads with an enticing, foresty, blackberry and cherry-fruited nose. After a bit of air, a light, aromatic hint of smoke emerges. On the palate, black cherry, plum and blueberry fruit flavors dominate this smoothly-textured Malbec.
Boekenhoutskloof 2008 The Wolftrap (Franschoek Valley, South Africa) $11.99
Comprised of 68% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 2% Viognier, this Rhone-ish South African red is richly aromatic on the nose. The palate is equally rich and full-bodied, loaded with blackberry and blueberry fruit flavors accented with smoky black pepper notes and a hint of cedar.
Bogle Vineyards 2008 Phantom $18.99
Bogle’s proprietary red blend, the Phantom, is a mix of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Mourvedre grapes sourced from very old vines. The just-released ’08 version offers concentrated red raspberry, dark chocolate and red and black currant flavors framed by cedar and vanilla/cocoa nuances. It’s one big, bold mouthful of fruit…
THURSDAY & FRIDAY “PREMIUM POUR” ($10.00 a glass)
Campo di Sasso 2007 Insoglio del Cinghiale (Tuscany, Italy) $24.99
The Insoglio is a ‘Super-Tuscan’ blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It offers a heady mix of ripe fruit, licorice, spice and tobacco aromas on the nose. On the palate, the fruit is all black – a rich mix of dates, black plum and blackberry. The tannins are as smooth and soft as a silk pillow…
NEW ARRIVALS:
Mills Reef 2007 Merlot-Malbec (Hawkes Bay, New Zealand) $18.99
This deeply colored 50/50 blend of Merlot and Malbec, sourced from the renowned Gimblet Gravels region of Hawkes Bay, is fruit-forward and supple. The flavors are a medley of ripe dark plums, boysenberries and black currants, intertwined with spicy/savory oak tones that add flavor interest.
Francolí Cava Brut Rosé (Catalunya, Spain) $15.99
This Brut Rosé Cava is composed of 100% Trepat grapes. A medium garnet in color, it reveals a charming nose of strawberry and rhubarb. On the palate it’s just off-dry, with a spicy and flavorful mix of strawberry and raspberry fruit, enlivened with a grapefruit/orange/lemon citrus character and fine minerality.
Natura 2011 Un-Oaked Chardonnay (Casablanca Valley, Chile) $11.99
This un-oaked Chilean Chardonnay offers refreshing notes of grapefruit and lime that intermingle with subtle tropical fruit scents of pineapple, starfruit and kiwis and a hint of herbs. It’s super-fresh, bright and juicy, with tangy citrus and tropical fruit flavors.
Cheers!
Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona 85364
928-373-0405
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