01/25/2016 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

 

This Saturday, January 30^th, Yuma’s annual Medjool Date Festival will happen here in Historic Downtown from 9 AM to 5 PM on the Main Street Plaza.  It’s our yearly celebration of “food, fun, family and all things dates!” presented by Yuma Heritage Festivals and Bard Valley Medjool Date Growers.  Yuma and nearby Bard Valley are among the world’s leading producers of this gourmet date – Medjools grown here are shipped worldwide, even to the Middle East.  The festival will feature musical entertainment all day, plus displays of the specialized machinery used to cultivate and harvest dates, cooking demonstrations and recipe contests, historical and art exhibits, farm tours, street vendors and lots of great festival food options.  And, the first 1,000 attendees can look forward to free coffee and Medjool Date muffins.  We’ll see you down here!

THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING):

 

Cantina Tramin 2013 Gewurztraminer (Alto Adige, Italy)    $21.99
This offers an aromatic, ripe nose of lychee, pear, flowers and spice.  On the palate, it’s fleshy and mouthfilling, with abundant juicy tropical fruit flavors and tangy hints of ruby grapefruit. A mineral edge and zesty acidity brings this drier-styled Gewurztraminer to a refreshing finish.

 

Villadoria 2010 Nebbiolo Bricco Magno (Piedmont, Italy)    $16.99
This Langhe Nebbiolo is a beautiful clear garnet in the glass. The nose offers a mix of toasty vanilla, rose petal and spice notes. The palate is velvety and welcoming, with a warm, complex profile of red cherry fruit, licorice, spices and a subtle underlay of earthy accents.

 

Dow 2010 Vale do Bomfim (Douro Valley, Portugal)    $12.99
This Portuguese blend of native red varietals has a juicy core of cherry, plum and raspberry flavors marked by firm acidity.  The lively fruit is supported by elegant tannins and a fine, savory finish is accented by a light hint of white pepper.

 

Bodegas Muriel 2008 Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain)    $17.99
This opens with the classic cherry, vanilla and tobacco leaf tones that Rioja reds are famed for. In the mouth, spicy dark cherry and berry fruit flavors mingle with a touch of vanilla and anise, plus a pleasant note of toast from 2 years of oak barrel aging.

 

Francis Coppola 2013 Vendetta (Mendocino and Monterey County)    $20.99
Abundantly spicy, with opening notes of pepper and toasted oak, Vendetta offers rich dark fruits, a silky mouthfeel and supple tannins. What begins with a lush nose of lavender, leather and spice turns into lively flavors of cassis, cherry and wild raspberry.  A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Malbec.

 

Hearst Ranch Winery 2011 The Pergola Petite Sirah (Paso Robles)    $26.99
This Petite is smooth, rich and polished, with layers of blackberry, blueberry and plum fruit.  Lush and super-saturated, it literally coats the palate, with floral and spice elements adding to its abundantly ripe black fruit flavors.  It’s a big and bold, yet silky-smooth mouthful of red.

 

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS:

 

Mumm Napa Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine (Napa Valley)    $24.99
Stunning color and elegant flavor are the hallmarks of this deliciously versatile Brut.  Black cherry and citrus aromas unfold into soft red fruit and berry flavors, coming to a satisfying finish. Brut Rosé is a wonderful choice for a festive weekend brunch, or to enliven a casual seafood dinner.

 

Goldschmidt Winery 2013 Fidelity Red (Alexander Valley)    $15.99
All the grapes for this wine were obtained from Nick Goldschmidt’s Crazy Creek Vineyard in Alexander Valley. A Meritage-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, it’s rich and supple, with notes of cherry, cedar and dark chocolate.

 

Alexander Valley Vineyards 2012 Sin Zin (Alexander Valley)    $17.99
The 2012 vintage marks the 35^th year of Sin Zin. It was bottled just for family and friends at first, but then the word got out and it’s become a Sonoma favorite ever since. The lush fruit flavors of raspberry, dark cherry and plum with black pepper accents are just as captivating as ever!

 

Mission Brewing Dark Seas Russian Imperial Stout (San Diego)    $7.99
Such a nice big beer for so many occasions, Dark Seas will intimidate those not willing to embrace the glory of its magnitude. Black as the darkest night and full of dark fruit, coffee and intense chocolate aromas, Dark Seas is certain to please all willing to brave these waters!

 

Cheers!

 

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

 

http://www.facebook.com/oldtownwinecellar

 

http://www.yumawine.com