5-9-11 News Letter

This Friday, May 13^th, Historic Downtown Yuma will boast over 30 art galleries — but only for a day!  I’m talking about the North End Art Walk, a brand new event dreamed up by local artists, downtown merchants and property owners, and the City of Yuma Arts and Culture Commission.  As many as 50 artists will team up with downtown businesses to create showplaces for their artistic creations.  In addition to all sorts of art, from paintings to jewelry to ceramics, the Art Walk will feature performances of live music along the way, plus light hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

The event will begin at 5:00 PM and continue until 9:00 PM Friday evening. Admission will be free at all of the participating locations, which includes most of the businesses downtown, as well as the Yuma Art Center, the Historic Yuma Theatre and the North End Artists Co-op.  Not to mention the Old Town Wine Cellar – I’ll be hosting an exhibition by local artist Rosemary Hawkey.  My wife and I have at least five of Rosemary’s works in our own home, and it’s a real honor to have her do a special showing of her paintings here at the Cellar.

There’s an amazing amount of artistic talent here in Yuma, and the Art Walk is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the fruits of that talent in a low-key, relaxed setting on a beautiful spring evening here in Old Town.  You might even want to squeeze in a wine tasting!

THURSDAY & FRIDAY WINE TASTING – $5.00 to try all six, or $5.00 for a full glass:

Chateau Bonnet 2008 Entre-Deux-Mers (Bordeaux, France)   $9.99
A traditional “White Bordeaux” blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon and 10% Muscadelle grapes, this wine opens with fresh and snappy aromas of peaches, lime and lemon. It has a refreshingly crisp and dry character, with good acidity and a bracingly clean finish.

Barton & Guestier 2009 Vouvray (Loire Valley, France)   $12.99
Made from 100% Chenin Blanc, this is a pleasant and aromatic white, with intense floral notes of linden flowers and white fruit aromas of apple and pear.  On the palate, it’s round, soft and just a bit sweet, with fresh, juicy white fruit flavors and a clean finish..

Anne Amie Vineyards 2009 Midnight Saignée (Willamette Valley)   $12.99

Midnight Saignée is a dry, yet deeply fruity rosé style wine layered with complex Pinot Noir character.  A true saignée wine requires precise timing and balance, and the right moment is often late at night.  Only a small amount of this wine is made in each vintage, using the saignée technique of “bleeding off” free-run juice from the grapes rather than crushing them in a press.

Delas 2008 Côtes du Rhône Saint-Esprit (Rhone Valley, France)   $12.99
Saint Esprit is crafted from a blend of Syrah and Grenache grapes, sourced from a small village in the Ardeche region. The vineyard’s southern exposure on steep, granitic hillsides provides superb growing conditions for the vines. This is a supple, silky Rhone red, with complex flavors of blackberry, mocha, pepper and herbs.
Boeger 2006 Zinfandel (El Dorado County)     $17.99

This classically styled Sierra Foothills Zin opens with aromas of plum, vanilla, cedar and a touch of anise. On the palate, deep flavors of blackberry and black cherry are accented by a distinctive dash of peppery spice, surrounded by soft, gentle tannins.

Santa Ema 2007 Amplus One (Cachapoal Valley, Chile)    $19.99
A full-bodied, intensely dark red, this opens with lush scents of black cherries, plums and blueberries. Rich flavors of blackberry and plum are accented with notes of dark chocolate, tobacco leaf and olive.  It’s primarily composed of Carmenère, along with small amounts of Syrah and Carignan.

THURSDAY & FRIDAY “PREMIUM POUR” ($10.00 a glass)

Chateau Cruzeau 2005 Pessac-Léognan (Bordeaux, France)   $25.99
This blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc opens with aromas of crushed berries, sweet tobacco, cedar and dark chocolate.  The palate offers an array of ripe fruit flavors, along with subtle touches of coffee, toasty oak and spice, supported by a smooth and balanced tannic structure.

NEW ARRIVALS:

Tormaresca 2008 Primitivo Torcicoda (Puglia, Italy)     $19.99

On the nose, a wide spectrum of dark fruit scents and exotic spice tones, plus a wisp of toasted almonds. The palate offers rich flavors of blackberries and black cherries, and hints of herbs and black licorice.  The tannins and acidity are distinct but keenly balanced, framing the long, velvety finish.

Rubicon Estate 2007 Cask Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford District, Napa Valley)    $74.99

The ‘07 Cask Cabernet is a striking beauty.  An exotic perfume of cassis, flowers, spice and oak is followed by luscious wild berry, cherry and currant flavors.  Supple tannins and the rich fruit core let one indulge now, but the impeccable structure will allow this wine to age and improve for years to come.  A classic representation of Rutherford Cabernet.

Miraflores 2009 Barbera (El Dorado County)     $19.99

Black cherry, dark chocolate, toasted oak, vanilla, cedar and an exotic hint of alpine forest mix on the palate of this rich, spicy and full-bodied red.  It also exhibits a fine degree of fresh tangy acidity, as is typical of this very food-friendly grape varietal, a native of the Piedmont region of northern Italy.

Cheers!

Mike Shelhamer

Old Town Wine Cellar

265 S. Main Street, Suite E

Yuma, Arizona  85364

928-373-0405

http://www.facebook.com/oldtownwinecellar