5-4-2011 News Letter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

Just a quick reminder that this Saturday evening, May 7^th, Planned Pethood of Yuma presents the 3^rd Annual Yappy Hour Wine Tasting Event here at the Old Town Wine Cellar from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.  Tickets are just $25 per person ($40 per couple), and there will be plenty of appetizers to enjoy along with a great selection of wines to sample.  And my own little Cellar pooch, La Diabla, will be on hand; not necessarily to add her own yapping to Yappy Hour, but to help promote her new book, La Diabla, The Wine Cellar Dog, which tells the tale of her adventures when she went missing from the shop for a solid year a while back.  All profits from the sale of her book go to the Humane Society of Yuma.  Call Jean Baber at 503-2850, Kelley Baliukas at 446-2249, or Rene Ragsdale at 920-1769 to reserve your tickets soon!

Also, I want to make everyone aware of a special winemaker dinner that will take place a week from today, Wednesday May 11^th at the nearby Radisson Market Wine Bar Bistro (1501 S. Redondo Parkway).  Michael Phillips, one half of Lodi’s Michael-David Winery (brother David is the other half) will be here in Yuma to present a selection of some of Michael-David Winery’s finest wines paired with a special multi-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Matt Alleshouse.  The dinner begins at 7:00 PM, after a reception at 6:30 PM.  I got a peek at both the wines and the food pairings, and they are outstanding.  I have carried Michael-David wines here at the Cellar for a number of years, and they are among the most distinctive California wines in the marketplace.  This dinner should be fantastic; don’t miss it.  The cost will be $65 per person, excluding tax & gratuity.  Call 783-8000 to reserve your places soon.  I’ll be there!

 

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

Attems 2009 Pinot Grigio (Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy)    $17.99

This is a full-bodied style of Pinot Grigio that opens with clean-edged aromas of apple, pear and a hint of banana.  It’s crisp and lively on the palate, yet surprisingly supple, with plenty of fresh apple and pear fruit flavors accented with a touch of vanilla.

Firestone Vineyards 2008 Riesling (Central Coast)     $10.99
This Riesling delivers on every front: fragrant, approachable and delicious.  Striking notes of honeysuckle, pear and honeydew melon are abundant on the nose.  The flavors follow with
delicious, crisp notes of melon, pear and lime on the palate.  An ideal sipping wine, also a perfect match with spicy Asian cuisine.

 

Farnese 2009 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (Abruzzo, Italy)    $11.99
This native Italian red is packed to the rafters with dense black cherry and wild berry flavors on a velvet smooth texture.  Delicious with Sunday roasts and meaty pasta – and naturally, barbecue.

Fire Station Red 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County)    $14.99
This Mendocino Cabernet is an unabashed “drink-me-now” style of red that’s velvet-smooth and loaded with dark fruit flavors, accented with light hints of vanilla and oak toast.
Viña Robles 2008 Red⁴, Huerhuero Vineyard (Paso Robles)   $14.99
The Red⁴ is a Paso Robles “field blend” of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Mourvedre.  On the nose, a heady mix of black cherry, plum, spice and vanilla tones emerge.  In the mouth, vibrantly ripe, dense flavors of cherry, raspberry and currant are carried on smooth, soft tannins.

Pio Cesare 2007 Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy)    $19.99

This is a modern-styled Barbera that reveals polished opening notes of vanilla, caramel and coffee from aging in small French oak barrels. The intense palate offers cherry and boysenberry fruit flavors that lead into a long, complex finish.

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

DeLoach Vineyards 2008 O·F·S Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)     $29.99

The O·F·S Zinfandel is sourced from premium Russian River Valley vineyards in the warmer areas of the AVA where the grapes ripen over the longer growing season, developing richer and more complex flavors. Dark ruby in color, this Zin is ripe and brambly yet elegant, with deep notes of blackberries and candied fruits accented by hints of lavender and chocolate.

NEW ARRIVALS:

Peju 2006 Merlot (Napa Valley)     $34.99

Peju’s Napa Merlot offers a bright nose full of cherries, cranberries, brown sugar and  a hint of eucalyptus.  With a complex and finely layered flavor profile of dark cherry, cocoa, blackberry and cranberry, silky tannins and a long, smooth finish, it’s a delicious and balanced red that will match well with many savory flavors.

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.

Bottega Vinaia 2009 Pinot Noir (Trentino, Italy)     $19.99

Bottega Vinaia wines are sourced from select family-farmed vineyards in the Trentino region of northeast Italy.  This Pinot Noir was produced strictly from Dijon clones, and barrel-aged for six months prior to release.  It displays fresh dark cherry and raspberry aromas that carry over to the medium weight palate.  This easy-drinking Pinot has good acidity and excellent balance.

Raimat 2009 Albariño Viña 24 (Costers del Segre, Spain)     $10.99

The suddenly fashionable Albariño varietal doesn’t always have to come from the Rias Baixas region! In the cool, high altitude vineyards of Spain’s Costers del Segre, it also grows very well. This crisply dry and wonderfully tangy white offers delicate aromas of citrus, dried flowers and spices.  Vivid white peach and citrus flavors are backed by a lively, fresh acidity.

Cheers!

Mike Shelhamer