6-14-11 News Letter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

In just another week the calendar will confirm what we already know in Yuma – summer is here! As we inevitably shift from pleasantly warm to downright toasty, entertaining summer diversions abound here in the Historic Downtown area. Great community theater continues Friday & Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, June 17th-19th, with the comedic play “Sin, Sex, and the C.I.A.” presented by the City of Yuma Employee Association at the Historic Yuma Theatre (254 S. Main Street). And I’m pleased to see that great jazz is back in Old Town, with local favorite The Yuma Jazz Company performing at Lutes’ Casino (221 S. Main) on Friday, June 17th at 7:00 PM, and again on Saturday evening, June 18th at 7:00 PM at Yuma’s Main Squeeze (251 S. Main). No cover charge either night of course, and food and beverages will be available throughout the performances.

And then there’s the wine tasting at the Cellar… This week my good buddy Mike Mooney volunteered to pick the wines for the tasting – they’re mostly new arrivals that he wants to try out. Seems like a good idea to me – see you down here!

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

Merryvale Starmont 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley $16.99
Pungent aromas of Meyer lemon, Key lime, grapefruit, guava, passionfruit and a hint of freshly picked herbs all jump from the glass. A round and honeyed texture, balanced by refreshing acidity gives this wine a rich, yet clean mouthfeel and a fresh, lasting finish.

Merryvale 2007 Starmont Chardonnay (Napa Valley) $17.99
This is fresh and vibrant Chardonnay, offering a full-bodied mix of tangerine, lime, nectarine and pear flavors that are complex, layered and cleansing. The wine has enough creamy oak to add a satisfying touch of richness, but the emphasis is on a focused and pure core of ripe orchard fruits.

Masi 2008 Modello Delle Venezie (Veneto, Italy) $10.99
This ‘Valpolicella-like’ wine melds the color, bouquet and cherry-like flavor of the native Corvina grape with the richness and vitality of the little-known Raboso Veronese. It’s wonderful by itself, and makes a superb match with just about kind of Italian cuisine.

Massimo 2009 Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) $12.99
On the nose, the oak is just right – a light whiff that marries well with gentle spice notes. This wine lives up to its name as big and succulent, with engaging notes of blueberry pie and juicy plums that sit engagingly on the palate. The flavors linger nicely at the finish, accented with spice, cedar and floral tones that add complexity.

Candor Lot 2 Zinfandel (California) $15.99
This innovative multi-vintage/multi-appellation Zinfandel offers a spicy red raspberry bouquet, accented with enticing hints of vanilla and red licorice. The medium-bodied palate delivers fresh raspberry, strawberry and vanilla flavors with a zippy acidity. Nicely balanced, soft and silky, it’s sure to be a perfect match for pizza or pasta.

Ironstone 2007 Reserve Cabernet Franc (Sierra Foothills) $19.99
Ironstone Reserve Cab Franc is a full-bodied, solid red with aromas hinting at red currants and lavender. Deep flavors of juicy blackberries and plums are beautifully intertwined with complex elements of cedar and herbs, ending with a hint of smoky oak.

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

Fess Parker The Big Easy 2008 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) $29.99
This Santa Barbara County Syrah offers a lovely nose of blackberry, black currant, vanilla, a dash of pepper and a hint of lavender. It’s rich and full-bodied with silky-smooth tannins and abundant dark fruits, edged by pleasant pepper and cinnamon notes.

NEW ARRIVALS:

Antinori 2009 Santa Cristina (Tuscany, Italy) $10.99
A perfect ruby-red in color, this Tuscan red offers an alluring bouquet of raspberry and cherry fruits, along with notes of violet and cedar. The palate is bursting with delicious berry and plum fruit, plus a dash of pepper.

Domaine de Nizas 2008 Rosé (Coteaux du Languedoc, France) $15.99
This is a dry, yet surprisingly plush rosé, with a creamy texture and juicy cherry, peach and melon flavors. Aromas of rose petals and red currants emerge on the nose, and light spice and pepper tones emerge with the bright fruit on the palate. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre.

Argyle 2008 Nuthouse Reserve Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) $49.99
The nose offers scents of juicy sweet Oregon blackberries and Rainier cherries, plus hints of cedar forest and a faint touch of red roses. The palate offers richly vivid flavors of freshly picked wild berries and exotic Asian spices, yet it displays a graceful elegance. It’s a rare and beautiful thing to find a Pinot Noir that displays this much power, but has all the balance and finesse that defines the best that the varietal can be.

Cheers!

Mike Shelhamer
Old Town Wine Cellar
265 S. Main Street, Suite E
Yuma, Arizona 85364
928-373-0405

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