6-21-11 News Letter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

Wow – it’s hot around here! Looks like the perfect time for this year’s Discover SCUBA event, set for Saturday morning, June 25th from 8:00AM to 12:00 noon at the Kennedy Pool (24th Street & Kennedy Lane). Discover SCUBA is an annual United Way of Yuma County fundraiser by my friends Shawn and Jeff of the Arizona Scuba Shack. In conjunction with Yuma Parks & Rec, they offer a fun and easy introduction to the great sport of scuba diving. Just bring a swimsuit, towel and a tax-deductible donation of any amount to United Way of Yuma, and you can try out scuba diving in a safe and comfortable environment with the assistance of expert instructors. Kids 10 & over are welcome, with parental permission. All the gear you’ll need to get underwater will be provided, so hop on over to Kennedy Pool Saturday morning and cool off! For more info, call Shawn at 783-1177.

Then, on Saturday evening at 7:00PM the Yuma Summer Six Pac of great community theatre continues at the Historic Yuma Theatre (254 S. Main) with a performance of Folktale Adventures. This is the finale for Desert Pointe Productions’ Summer Camp, and is performed by youths from five to eleven years of age. The performance celebrates the budding creative talents and energy of the participants, using the glorious tradition of folktales as its foundation. Reserved seating tickets are $10, available at the Yuma Art Center (same address).

And, next Tuesday, June 28th, my next door neighbor Carla Renée Restaurant will reprise their renowned Lobster & Seafood Feast. Of special note this time, Carla is doing the seafood dinner as a benefit for the Arizona Children’s Association, with a portion of each dinner sold donated to that charitable organization. As in the past, there will be more fresh seafood, including live Maine lobsters, than you can likely eat. Trust me, I’ve been there, it’s an awesome dinner. The cost will be $70 per person with two seatings at 6:00PM and 8:00PM; if you’re interested please reserve by Thursday (782-0499) so Carla can get the fresh lobsters ordered. Bon appetit!

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

Twin Vines 2009 Vinho Verde (Portugal) $8.99
This Vinho Verde has fresh citrus aromas of lemon-lime, plus a hint of green apple. It’s crisp, light and fresh on the palate, with thirst-quenching, citrus-edged flavors plus an enticing prickle of effervescence. A blend of the native Portuguese grapes Loureiro, Trajadura and Pedernã.

J Vineyards 2009 Pinot Gris (California) $14.99
J Pinot Gris opens with tropical fruit aromas of pineapple, mango and guava, mixed with notes of honeysuckle, pear and Fuji apples. On the palate, flavors echo the nose, full of bright and juicy tangerine, peach and apple flavors that carry on to a crisp, tangy finish.

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 regional blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre.

Belle Glos 2009 Meiomi Pinot Noir (California) $19.99
Belle Glos produces distinctive Pinot Noirs sourced from some of California’s top wine-growing regions. The Meiomi is a compilation of carefully selected fruit from Sonoma, Santa Barbara County and Monterey County. The result is a lusciously fruity, rich and smooth California Pinot Noir for a really nice price.

Avalon 2009 Merlot (Napa Valley) $14.99
Avalon Merlot reveals its depth with a deep garnet color. Aromas of boysenberries and cherries fill the glass. Creme brulee and brown sugar notes from oak complement the ripe berry aromas. On the palate, juicy berry flavors mingle with elements of chocolate and wood smoke. Refined tannins frame the ample fruit.

Domaine de Nizas 2005 Coteaux du Languedoc (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) $18.99
This a refined red from the south of France, built around a core of concentrated raspberry, dark plum and currant flavors. There’s plenty of fresh acidity as well, and it ends on a bright pepper-and-spice finish. A classic southern France blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache.

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

Black Stallion 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) $24.99
This full-bodied Cabernet offers aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, red currant and cedar. The rich fruit is accented with a savory array of spice and floral tones like nutmeg, ginger, lavender, vanilla cream and espresso bean. Smooth, well integrated tannins carry it to a lingering, elegant finish.

NEW ARRIVALS:

L‘attitude 39˚ 2008 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) $12.99
L’attitude 39˚ is a clean, fresh, “cool-climate” Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Bright tropical fruit aromas mingle on the nose. The palate offers a juicy fruitbasket of flavor, refreshing acidity and a fine, crisp, mineral-laced finish.

Terre de Trinci 2004 Sagrantino di Montefalco Ugolino (Umbria, Italy) $49.99
Montefalco is a steep, hillside town in Umbria, famous for the Sagrantino di Montefalco, a rich and full-bodied red made from the little-known Sagrantino varietal. The 2004 Ugolino is a sumptuous, richly flavored, fleshy red, abounding in lush flavors of blackberries, earth and spice. The tannins are big but soft, coated with vanilla and cedar tones, and the finish just doesn’t let go…

Domaine Drouhin 2008 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) $39.99
The Burgundian touch of Veronique Drouhin has produced a wine of superb elegance and immaculate structure. This is the antithesis of a ripe California style, yet it still shows the vibrance and freshness of the New World as opposed to the suppressed rusticity of so much French Burgundy. Delicate dark cherry and juicy black plum fruit is sculpted into a wine with nuanced hints of cedar, coffee and spice.

Cheers!

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

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