12-06-2011 Newsletter
Greetings from the Wine Cellar:
Christmas is the theme here in Old Town this week. Wednesday through Saturday, December 7th – 10th, Desert Pointe Productions presents the classic
play by Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol” at the Historic Yuma Theatre (254 S. Main Street). And no, I’m not going to tell you what it’s about; I don’t want to spoil it for you. The shows begin at 7:00 PM weekdays with two shows on Saturday at 12:00 and 4:00. Reserved seating tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 & under, available at the Art Center box office or on-line at www.yumaaz.gov/events.
And on Saturday evening, Yuma’s Yuletide season officially gets underway with the 2011 Dorothy Young Memorial Electric Light Parade. The parade begins at 6:00 PM at 8th Street & 3rd Avenue, and makes its way via Orange Avenue downtown to the finale on the Main Street Plaza between 2nd & 3rd Streets. Post-Parade, the Yuma High School Marching Band will perform Christmas songs in front of the Yuma Art Center, and Santa will be on hand to keep the kids occupied. And speaking of the Art Center, Yuma Fine Arts Association will hold their annual Holiday Happening from
6:00 to 10:00 in the Art Center Museum to celebrate the joy of the season, with plenty of Christmas treats, music and holiday prizes for everyone.
And finally, on Sunday, December 11th, the Yuma String Consortium presents Spirit of Christmas at the Historic Yuma Theatre, “a festive concert of traditional, classic and popular holiday music” featuring four local string groups: Twinklers, Young Ambassadors, String Ambassadors and Civic Orchestra, conducted by Janet Jones and Kathy Younker. The show begins
at 2:00 PM; tickets are $10 or $15 for couples, $5 for seniors and military, with kids 12 & under admitted free, available at the Art Center box office.
Get your Christmas spirit on!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $5.00 to try all six, or
$5.00 for a full glass:
Frenzy 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) $10.99
This wine is produced by the folks from Tenuta Campo di Sasso of Tuscany, Italy, who fell in love with New Zealand and its delightful Sauvignon Blancs.
The Frenzy is zesty, aromatic, and very fresh, with delicious flavors of peach, grapefruit, lime, melon, and a touch of freshly mown grass. It’s a great apéritif or seafood partner.
Decoy 2010 Chardonnay (Sonoma County) $17.99
The grapes for this wine were sourced from top vineyard sites throughout the Sonoma Coast appellation, and barrel fermented in a mix of new and used French oak. The result is a creamy, refined Chardonnay, with moderate toast, abundant ripe fruit and surprising finesse.
Marchese de’ Frescobaldi 2010 Remolè (Tuscany, Italy) $11.99
The Remolè opens with fragrant scents of red and black fruits, lifted by spicy impressions of black pepper and licorice. The entry is velvety and warm, and the components on the palate are well balanced, with a tasty vein of acidity. A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Argento 2008 Bonarda (Mendoza, Argentina) $12.99
The Bonarda varietal originated in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, but
finds its best expression in Argentina. This wine has intense aromas of fresh
raspberries with light floral notes. Ripe berry fruit flavors are edged by a
touch of violet, leading to a soft, round finish.
Jade Mountain 2008 La Provençale (California) $15.99
Old-vine Mourvèdre, planted around 1890, forms the foundation for this
Chateauneuf-Du-Pape-styled red, providing a spicy element and a firmly tannic backbone. Grenache contributes bright raspberry fruit, with Syrah very evident in the wine’s dark purple color and blackberry jam aromas and flavors.
Conn Creek 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) $19.99
Fruit from Conn Creek’s Collins-Holystone Vineyard, in the St. Helena AVA, forms the core of this Cabernet, along with vineyards in Stags’ Leap District, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak and the Spring Mountain AVA’s. The phenomenal ‘07 vintage in Napa is well reflected in this rich, supple and finely balanced Cabernet.
THURSDAY & FRIDAY “PREMIUM POUR” ($10.00 a glass)
Ridge Vineyards 2009 Geyserville Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley) $34.99
Each vintage of the Geyserville is special, distinct, extraordinary. But they all have elements in common, like the blackest of blackberry fruit, abundant pepper spice, chocolate and cedar. The term ‘layered’ is the best descriptor for this wine. Over the years it will change, re-inventing itself in the bottle with up to ten years of cellar aging, developing more nuances and complexity.
NEW ARRIVALS:
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.
Chalone Vineyard 2008 Merlot (Monterey County) $12.99
This supple, full-flavored Merlot features a fine-tuned acidity that lifts and accentuates a brooding core of rich dark fruit. Ripe black cherry and plum flavors spread thick across the palate, complemented by a hint of spicy clove.
An excellent example of the varietal.
Decoy 2009 Zinfandel (Sonoma County) $22.99
This wine highlights a bright, red-fruit-and-spice expression of Zinfandel. The aromas are fresh and appealing, showing layers of strawberry jam, raspberry and vanilla bean. In the mouth, the wine is full and balanced, with
ripe strawberry and and red raspberry notes accented by subtle toasty oak
tones.
Cheers!
Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona 85364
928-373-0405