12/12/2017 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

 

With just a week to go until Christmas, it’s time to focus on those last minute gift ideas. A good bottle of wine (or perhaps a great craft or imported brew?) is a nice and very easy option, or alternatively a Wine Cellar Gift Certificate makes a great stocking-stuffer. So why not stop by the Cellar this week and cross some gifts off your list, and enjoy a wine tasting while you’re at it!

 

One quick note: since Christmas Day and New Year’s Day happen to fall on Monday this year, there will be no change to normal Wine Cellar business hours for the duration of the holiday season; we’ll be open all our normal days and hours of operation, Tuesday thru Saturday.  And if we don’t see you this week, have a very Merry Christmas from the Old Town Wine Cellar!

 

THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING:

 

Chateau Graville-Lacoste 2015 Graves Blanc (Bordeaux, France)    $19.99 Pure and lively, this Graves strikes a glorious balance of flavor and refreshment. A blend of

75% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 5%  Muscadelle, it offers aromas of peach, melon, fresh-cut grass and citrus peel.  On the palate, it’s a balanced and elegant white with a rich, vibrant fruit character.  The finish offers superb length combined with dazzling acidity.

 

Michele Chiarlo 2014 Il Principe Langhe Nebbiolo (Piedmont, Italy)    $17.99 Chiarlo’s Il Principe Nebbiolo offers an alluring bouquet of raspberry and strawberry. The palate shows the classic varietal character of ripe red cherry accented by complex accents of dry herbs, earth and cedar, on an elegantly smooth and silky tannic frame.

 

Celler de Capçanes 2012 Mas Picosa (Montsant, Spain)    $12.99 Mas Picosa is a blend of organically grown old vine Garnacha (70%) and Syrah (30%).  It shows beautifully concentrated dark fruit flavors of ripe blackberry and black cherry.  Lush and velvety, the wine has a satisfying plummy richness and very smooth texture.

 

Josh Cellars 2015 California Cabernet Sauvignon    $14.99 This Cabernet shows expressive aromas of spicy black cherry and ripe blackberry, with light hints of cedar and mocha. Mouth-filling flavors of juicy black and red  fruits are laced with accents of herbs and spices, all through a rich, lingering finish.

 

Tyrrell’s 2014 Estate Shiraz (Hunter Valley, Australia)    $22.99 This Old Vine Shiraz offers intense aromas of rich dark berries and plums, layered with underlying notes of fragrant spice and dark chocolate. It’s rich and round on the palate, with plenty of bright, fresh berry fruit, finely balanced tannins and well-integrated oak.

 

Belle Glos 2016 Pinot Noir, Clark & Telephone Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley)    $44.99 This Pinot starts with an intense nose of raspberry jam, black currants, spice and vanilla.  Rich flavors of fresh dark raspberries and blackberries exhibit an exotic spicy quality, and the refined tannins create a soft, silky mouthfeel.  A fruit-laden, juicy finish just seems to go on forever…

 

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS:

 

Rutherford Hill 2014 Merlot (Napa Valley)    $27.99 From one of Napa’s true specialists with this varietal, this is a complex and well-structured Merlot.  Beautifully perfumed plum and black cherry fruit flavors are polished and rich, offering fine intensity, depth and length. Smooth and supple tannins support the long, elegant finish.

 

Maggio Family Vineyards 2015 Sauvignon Blanc (Lodi)    $9.99 The Maggio family has grown wine grapes in Lodi for five generations and they started making their own wines in 2002.  This unoaked Sauvignon Blanc offers a smooth and briskly refreshing character, with juicy, bright citrus and white stone-fruit flavors. It makes a great alternative to heavier white wines like Chardonnay.

 

Château de Lascaux 2014 Coteaux du Languedoc (Languedoc, France)    $17.99 This red absolutely sings of southern France.  The nose is redolent with violets, dried herbs, cassis and raspberries. The palate is smooth and enticing, offering black cherry, raspberry and currant fruit flavors, accented by hints of violets, earth, herbs and spice.  It ends on a bright, persistent finish, with a kick of pepper spice.

 

Corsendonk Christmas Ale (Belgium)    $11.99 This is a rich, dark and joyous brew made to celebrate the holiday season.  Aromas of chocolate malt and spice are reminiscent of the wonderful scents of holiday baking in Mom’s kitchen. It’s silky smooth on the palate and nicely malty, with complex smoke, spice and citrus notes and a lingering finish that’s lightly tart and malty.  It’s bottle conditioned for a fresh, lively character.

 

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