01/02/2019 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

 

Welcome to 2019!  The festivities of the new year have left me a bit behind schedule this week, but I want to let everyone know if they haven’t heard already that this first week of January will bring us the inaugural Yuma Bird, Nature & History Festival.  With dozens of activities including field trips and seminars, the Festival will immerse you in all of the natural beauty that Yuma and the surrounding areas have to offer.  Some activities require pre-registration and a fee.  Check out the City of Yuma website (www.yumaaz.gov) or call 373-5200 for more information and registration details.  Here’s a list of all the scheduled activities by day:

Friday, January 4
Mysteries of Yuma
YPG Museum
Wings over Yuma
Mysteries of Yuma
Bat Viewing
Canoe Trip
Star Gazing
Saturday, January 5
River History
Hiking the Pacific Crest
Who named that bird
The Importance of Migration Corridors
Wildlife & Native Plants
Plants of Palm Canyon
Mittry Lake & Vicinity
Betty’s Kitchen
West Wetlands Plants
Imperial NWR
Muggins Mountains
Bird and Nature Walk
Cocopah Museum/Fry Bread
East Wetlands birding
Yuma Territorial Prison
Moody Garden
West Wetlands
Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
Sunday, January 6
Salton Sea
Senator’s Wash
Hope you can enjoy a few of them!

THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING:

 

Harken 2017 California Chardonnay    $15.99 100% barrel-fermented with full malolactic fermentation, this was aged seven months in a mix of American and French oak. The result is a delicious medley of crème brulée and buttered toast notes along with ripe Bosc pear and tropical fruit flavors.  Definitely a classic ‘California-style’ Chardonnay.

 

Castello d’Albola 2011 Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)    $15.99 A solid, traditionally styled Classico, this starts off with attractive aromas of plums and cedar.  In the mouth, flavors of ripe dark cherries and plums offer an intriguing accent of old leather and tea leaves.  Silky tannins carry through to the finish of this nicely dry and very food-friendly red.

 

Paringa 2012 Shiraz (South Australia)    $10.99 Paringa Shiraz offers aromas of blackberries and black currants, edged with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.  The palate conveys the dark berry fruits of the nose with a delicate sweetness and soft, silky tannins. Accents of cedar and spice emerge on a velvety finish.

 

Niner Wine Estates 2015 “9” Estate Red (Paso Robles)    $15.99 Niner’s “9” is a blend of nine different red varietals. Raspberry and pomegranate aromas on the nose are edged by hints of vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and candied orange zest.  Ripe fruit comes through on the palate, with mocha-infused tannins and bright acidity.

 

Bogle 2014 Phantom California Red    $19.99 Bogle’s Phantom Red is a blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Mourvedre grapes sourced from really old vines.  It offers concentrated red raspberry, dark chocolate and red and black currant flavors, framed by accents of cedar and vanilla. This is one big, bold mouthful of fruit…

 

Conn Creek 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)    $29.99 Fruit from Conn Creek’s estate vineyard in St. Helena forms the core of this wine, along with vineyards in the Stags’ Leap, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak and Spring Mountain districts.  The result is a rich, elegant and finely balanced Cabernet.

 

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS:

 

Domaine Chandon Etoile Brut (Napa Valley)    $32.99 Tiny bubbles elevate an attractive bouquet of ginger and light spice. Appealing baked apples, honey and cinnamon flavors meld seamlessly with toasty caramel hints from extended “sur lie” aging.  The creamy and seamless palate structure, combined with balanced acidity, carries this sparkler to a long, lush and truly satisfying finish.

 

Shannon Ridge 2015 High Elevation Petite Sirah (Lake County)    $14.99 This is vinted from a careful selection of mountain-grown fruit farmed at elevations of 1,200 to 2,400 feet, and aged in a mix of French and American oak for up to 9 months.  Fresh blackberry, blueberry and dark plum flavors are laced with hints of black pepper and toasty vanilla.

 

Josh Cellars 2017 California Chardonnay    $12.99 This California Chard is nicely balanced, starting off with aromas of tropical fruits and citrus married with subtle oak tones.  It’s bright and fresh in the mouth, giving  rich, lingering flavors of yellow peaches, citrus and just a touch of crème brulee.

 

King Harbor Brewing King Swirly IV Dark Ale (Redondo Beach, CA)   $16.99 King Swirly IV is a Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Dark Ale, made using coffee, cacao nibs  and vanilla beans.  Every year it’s brewed, barrel-aged for 6 months and then released to celebrate King Harbor’s anniversary. It’s deliciously strong and sweet, with a stout-like darkness and a lengthy finish.

 

Cheers!

 

Mike Shelhamer

Old Town Wine Cellar

265 S. Main Street, Suite E

Yuma, Arizona  85364

928-373-0405

 

http://www.yumawine.com