02/01/2016 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

 

Fort Yuma Rotary Club’s 2016 Mardi Gras on Main Block Party takes place Friday, February 5^th on the Main Street Plaza right here in Historic Downtown.  The party goes from 5 to 11 PM, with live music and lots of other activities, plus plenty of food and beverage options. Time to dig your beads and feathers out of the closet…

 

And then on Saturday, February 6^th, Yuma Heritage Festivals and Robb Bower Presents invite everyone to the Yuma River Daze 2016 Boogie, Brews and Blues Festival.  The event runs from 11AM to 7PM at Gateway Park on the Colorado River here in Historic Downtown.  It’s a full day of great live music from a number of different performers alongside the Colorado River, and all ages are welcome. Adult tickets are $30 pre-sale, $35 the day of the show, kids 13-17 are $5, and under 13 admitted free.  Military (Active/Retired/Spouse) are $20.  You can get your tickets at www.robb-bowerpresents.com or at the Yuma City Hall, Yuma Civic Center and the Yuma Art Center box office.  So enjoy some great boogie & blues on the river this Saturday!

THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING):

 

Miraflores 2014 Muscat Canelli (El Dorado County)    $15.99
This is a deliciously floral, yet light and delicate Muscat wine. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe peaches and apricots overflow on the nose, followed up by a fruit-basket of similar flavors in the mouth. It’s fantastic as an apéritif wine – serve it very well chilled!

 

Elouan 2013 Oregon Pinot Noir    $22.99
Elouan Pinot Noir is sourced from Oregon’s three premier wine-growing regions: Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue River Valley.  The wine shows a rich dark fruit character on the palate with a fine, silky texture and refreshing acidity.

 

Gran Passione  2013 Rosso (Veneto, Italy)    $12.99
This wine was made from partially dried grapes to concentrate its flavors, with some Merlot added to the indigenous Corvina and Rondinella. It’s a succulent red with juicy flavors of blackberry jam, raisins and Asian spice, yet it remains savory and dry through the finish.

 

Alexander Valley Vineyards 2012 Sin Zin Zinfandel (Alexander Valley)    $17.99
The 2012 vintage marks the 35^th year of Sin Zin. It was first bottled just for family and friends, but then word got out and it’s been 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!

 

Qupé 2012 Syrah (Central Coast)    $19.99
This is a vibrant Syrah, overflowing with ripe black fruit on the nose, followed up by notes of spice and oak.  Dense fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and stewed plums are tinged with accents of mocha, expresso and cinnamon that come to a lush, lasting finish.

 

Rombauer 2011 Merlot (Napa Valley)    $29.99
Rombauer Merlot offers a ripe, juicy core of blackberry, plum and dark cherry fruit.  Firm and dry yet elegantly styled, it shows elements of rich spice that accent the fruit and add complexity.  The round, soft finish carries a light accent of vanilla.

 

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS:

 

Markham Vineyards 2013 Cellar 1879 Blend (Napa Valley)    $22.99
Six different varietals go into the Cellar 1879 red, a tribute to the winery’s founding over a century ago.  Merlot takes the lead, with Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel and Petite Verdot added in.  The wine offers plenty of rich dark fruit character edged with accents of smoky, toasty oak.

 

Bodegas Príncipe de Viana 2013 Graciano (Navarra, Spain)    $12.99
This 100% Graciano is from Navarra, a wine region that lies right beside far more famous Rioja. A little-known native varietal, it makes a lively and enjoyable red, offering up a bouquet of black raspberries, smoky minerals and spicy oak.  It’s smooth and supple in the mouth, with flavors of ripe cherry and cassis.

 

Virginia Dare 2014 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley)    $19.99
This Sonoma Chardonnay opens with lush tropical tones of orange blossoms, pineapple and honeyed peach, along with a buttery note of pastry crust.  The elegant palate brings in a measure of balancing minerality, and a satisfying touch of oak toast adds to the wine’s deliciously creamy, rich character.

 

Deschutes Brewery The Abyss Imperial Stout (Bend, Oregon)    $17.99
A deep, dark Imperial Stout, The Abyss has almost immeasurable depth and complexity. Hints of molasses, licorice and other flavors make it something not just to quaff, but also to contemplate. While distinct and delicious on release, the flavors meld and fuse into an entirely different pleasure with cellar aging.

 

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