10/30/2023 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:
Hope everyone is enjoying our cooler weather. We have a nice selection of Featured Wines this week for your tasting pleasure, including a few wines from legendary winemaker, Dave Phinney. Dave Phinney, was the original maker of the amazing Prisoner Red Blend before selling the Prisoner brand in 2010. He then went on to building up a few other labels, including Orin Swift and his Locations brand. Hope you can come join us this week to sample some of his amazing wines. Maybe have a glass or two out on our new patio and enjoy the nice weather.

Also, this Friday is First Friday in Historic Downtown so come out, enjoy the weather and support our Downtown merchants. There will be plenty to do while you are here, including Celebrate and UnWined, annual fund-raising event for the Children’s Museum of Yuma County.

FEATURED WINES THIS WEEK

Orin Swift 2022 Blank Stare Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County, California) $36.99

Orin Swift Blank Stare Sauvignon Blanc is pale yellow with a chartreuse tint, the wine opens with bright aromatics of lime zest, lemon, green apple and a touch of honey. This white wine is refreshing with ripe pineapple and grapefruit, framed by satiating acidity. A mid-palate of white peach and a hint of pith melds seamlessly into a long, The finish is energetic is bright and youthful with a slight Meyer lemon rind closing out the wine.
($15 by the glass)

Hands of Time 2018 Pinot Noir (Sonoma County, California) $23.99

This is definitely a “new world” more full-bodied Pinot Noir. Almost Cabernet Sauvignon (not the Napa big, bold kind though) adjacent. You’ll pick up on the standard cherry Pinot Noir flavors, as well as other red berry/cranberry notes, but the obvious secondary baking spices and chocolate cocoa flavors really round Hands of Time Pinot Noir out, making it distinct from a light bodied Pinot Noir. Serve it, “cellar chilled” (60-65 degree F), for full enjoyment.
($10 by the glass)

Dave Phinney Locations ES (Spain) $19.99

Locations ES was produced with fruit sourced from 5 regions in Span: Priorat, Jumilla, Toro, Rioja, and Ribera del Duero. This wine opens with aromatic notes of tobacco, cigar box, and ripe plum, and leads to an opulent palate of dark berries, earth, hints of spice, and sweet tobacco with a lengthy, luscious finish.
($10 by the glass)

Orin Swift 2020 Abstract Red Blend (California) $38.99

The 2020 Abstract pours a neon purple splash and an opaque maroon core with dark aromatics upfront. Black plum, boysenberry and hints of bing cherry and lavender invite a taste. On the palate, the aromatics turn into the sense of taste along with a touch of dark chocolate and reduced blackberry. Supple drying tannins and a slight chalky texture close the wine with a calming finish.
($15 by the glass)

DeLille Cellars 2020 D2 Red Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington) $39.99

Showcasing a classic layering of red and dark fruits, the 2020 D2 Red Blend is built upon a softer, approachable structure and style that allow for this wine to be so reliable to be enjoyed in its youth. Whiffs of dried cranberry, black cherry, vanilla bean, and lavender flower flow into a palate filled with flavors reminiscent of milk chocolate, green peppercorn, and fresh ground nutmeg. Pair with butternut squash risotto with black truffles.
($15 by the glass)

CORAVIN® BY THE GLASS OPTIONS

Seven Apart 2019 Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) $299.99/Bottle

The luscious wine is bright, polished and high-powered. A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, the wine is a tapestry of perfectly ripe fruit flavors. Aromas of red cherry, raspberry, and fresh tobacco, with notes of cinnamon, and vanilla. On the palate there is a rush of red fruits, which continues to build in intensity as the wine is savored. The texture is incredibly fine-grained and silky, while the fruit at the wine’s core expands and lengthens on the finish.
($60 per glass)

DAOU Estate 2020 Soul of the Lion (Paso Robles, California) $172.99/Bottle

The 2020 vintage presents an alluring profusion of black cherry, mulberry and Oregon blackberry aromas with notes of leather, cigar box and dark chocolate. The palate is silky and voluptuous, delivering loads of currant, cassis, black raspberry and ripe cherry. Notes of fig and baking spice are underscored by earthy tones of dates and truffle. Mature, ripe tannins yield a weighty, velvety texture integrated with a limestone minerality and subtle oak. A lengthy finish leaves lingering impressions of blackberry, plum and espresso with a touch of white pepper.
($35 per glass)

Orin Swift 2021 Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California) (175.99)

An almost-black, opaque garnet core sits in the glass with slow-moving tears falling down the sides. Immediate aromatic notes of ripe cassis, charred ribeye, sandalwood and freshly cut oak pilfer. The first sip is a complex, layered conundrum of blackberry, black plum, fennel, licorice and dark chocolate. More sips peel back the layers to reveal a rich and balanced wine with a deep cassis core. A sweet linger on the finish closes the wine with softly textured chalky tannins.
($35 per glass)

DAOU Reserve 2020 Seventeen Forty (Paso Robles, California) $78.99/Bottle

Inspired by the classics of Saint-Émilion, DAOU Reserve Seventeen Forty is a Cabernet Franc driven wine with a harmonious complement of Merlot. Beguiling aromas of blackberry cobbler, raspberry, crème de cassis and cherry pipe tobacco anticipate hints of toasty oak, black licorice and pencil shaving. Lush and full bodied, this wine has rich flavors of cherry, black plum, dark chocolate and blueberry compote with lovely accents of graphite and cinnamon. Solid structure and fine-grained tannins support a lengthy, focused finish, leaving notes of plum and boysenberry underscored by cocoa and black truffle.
($20 per glass)

Zenato 2017 Amarone Classico (Veneto, Italy) $74.99/Bottle

Dense and concentrated, yet still beautifully balanced and well-integrated, this is classic Amarone. Lush aromas of plums, dates and toasted oak greet the nose. It’s rich and full on the palate with layers of ripe, raisiny fruit and super-silky tannins to give it grip on the lengthy finish. A truly elegant, stylish wine.
($15 per glass)

Silvio Nardi 2017 Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) $74.99/Bottle

This Brunello opens with lush, penetrating aromas of ripe dark fruit edged with subtle spice tones, then revealing a whiff of dried flowers in the background. An elegant and richly flavorful wine, this has a velvety and polished texture and a long, refined finish.
($15 per glass)

NEW ARRIVALS

Blindfold 2021 Blanc de Noir (Sonoma County, California) $28.99

Born from the dark and provocative world of The Prisoner Wine Company enters a new white wine expression that explores light, vibrance and elegance. This wine is made from white-pressed pinot noir and has notes of fresh, in-season citrus, white flower, white peach, a hint of tart cranberry. Delicate but lively, elegant, zesty & bright. The wine is made from mostly pinot noir with small amounts of Viognier and Gewurztraminer.

Wren House Brewing Märzen (Arizona) $4.99

Märzen differentiates from its Oktoberfest counterpart, Festbier, primarily through its slightly fuller body, classic amber/copper color and toasted sourdough flavor with a whisper of caramel. This style is an exercise in malt, body, and bittering balance that make it sturdy and full-flavored while emphasizing drinkability for moments of celebration. For this traditional favorite, we use a variety of German-grown Base Malts with specialty malts for color and depth of flavor. German-grown Tradition and Hallertauer Mittelfrüh provide a subtle noble balance to this beer that welcomes us gently into the Fall season.

Cheers!

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