1/25/2021 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

First Friday is right around the corner. As in this Friday — February 5, 2021. The first Friday of every month, many downtown Yuma businesses participate in First Friday. Businesses on Main Street and Madison Avenue remain open until 8PM or later, and some feature special sales. Participating businesses include Rebel and Rove, Jack Mellon Mercantile, Cafecito, Dream Gift Shop, Bare Naked Soap Co., 2Fifty1 Twisted Kitchen, Kirstin Noelle Designs, Sanguinetti House Museum and Littlewood Fine Arts Gallery, with more joining in each month. The new Yuma Visitor Information Center on Main Street will be open until 8PM, and will feature live entertainment from DJ Bobby Mac plus Valentine’s Day festivities.

The Old Town Wine Cellar is officially open until 7PM Tuesday through Friday, but Friday evening we generally have a pretty good turnout of folks enjoying our wine tasting lineup or wines by the glass, and we’re usually here at least until 8PM or even later. So if you make it downtown to enjoy the festivities this week, be sure to drop in. Hope to see you Friday!

FEATURED WINES THIS WEEK

Arizona Stronghold 2018 Tazi (Cochise County) $14.99

Named after the son of Chief Cochise of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, the 2018 Tazi blends Malvasia Bianca – a white grape grown mainly in Italy to produce dry, sweet and sparkling wines, with a bit of Muscat. It starts off with notes of Asian pear, key lime and passion fruit and finishes with a medley of lychee, lemon zest and grapefruit.

Rocca Delle Macie 2018 Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy) $16.99

This Classico begins with fresh black cherry aromas mixed with hints of leather, earth, plums and violets. The palate is medium-bodied, with supple tannins and good acidity. Classic Chianti flavors of ripe red cherries and plums are edged with a hint of licorice.

Delas 2018 Côtes du Rhône Saint-Esprit (Rhone Valley, France) $15.99

Saint-Esprit is made with primarily Grenache grapes sourced from a small village in the southern Rhone. The vineyard’s southerly exposure on steep, granitic hillsides provides a perfect growing environment. It’s a fresh and savory red, with rich fruit flavors accented by spice notes.

Miraflores Rojo (El Dorado County) $22.99

“Rojo” is a proprietary blend of estate-grown Zinfandel, Grenache and Malbec grapes. It’s a soft and easy-drinking red blend with lush, spicy accents of blackberries, plums and cherries, with a nice dash of cracked black pepper on the finish.

Vindicated 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa County/Sonoma County) $22.99

Round and full, this Cabernet has the tannins and structure to be expected from this classic varietal, while giving immediate pleasure to the palate. Flavors of red raspberry, cassis and a touch of cocoa are nicely framed by a kiss of French oak for added harmony and balance.

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS

Marques de Murrieta 2012 Rioja Gran Reserva (Rioja, Spain) $59.99

This traditional Rioja blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano spent 29 months in American oak barrels, imparting a fragrant mix of vanilla and dried coconut to its dark flavors of brambly fruit, cassis, spiced fruitcake, licorice, cured meat and forest floor.

Chateau de Lagarde 2019 Le Petit Cuvée Nature (Bordeaux, France) $19.99

The Cuvée Nature does not utilize pesticides, sulfites, chemical fertilizers or any oak, but it still has plenty of flavor. Inexpensive Merlots tend not to be too exciting, and ones that stand out generally have their oak aging to thank. But this Bordeaux tastes bright and alive. So maybe there is something to this “Natural Wine” movement after all…

Fattorie Melini 2017 Chianti Classico Terrarossa (Tuscany, Italy) $18.99

This Chianti Classico takes its name from the Terrarossa Estate, which features hillside vineyards that range from 900 to 1,200 feet of elevation in the Sienese district. It’s an elegant red with a finely balanced structure that brings out seductive flavors of red berries and spice, and a lingering, smooth finish.

MIA Beer Company Neon White IPA (Miami, Florida) $4.99

Neon is a white, or “hazy” style of IPA. The palate starts off with a nice dash of doughy bread and then turns juicy with tropical fruit flavors. It has a nice mix of tangy citrus along with a distinct bite of piney hops, and finishes sweetly with a lingering taste of tropical fruit and pine.

Cheers!

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