5/10/2021 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

The weather is getting pretty warm lately… Face it, summer is closing in on us, and Yuma’s frequently rather extreme hot weather will become a fact of life over the next several months. Wine can’t solve hot weather, but it can hopefully make it a bit more bearable once the heat really kicks in. Specifically, I’m talking about white and rosé wines, properly chilled of course. We mostly feature reds on our weekly wine tasting flights here at the Wine Cellars, but I know I drink a lot more white wine in the summer months than any other time. We have some really nice, refreshing white and rosé wines at the Cellar to choose from, but space doesn’t allow me to start naming off my favorites here. So check Facebook this week and I’ll be discussing some great wine choices for hot weather sipping. Ciao!

FEATURED WINES THIS WEEK

Alta Mora 2018 Etna Bianco (Sicily, Italy) $22.99

The 2018 Etna Bianco is a pure expression of Sicily’s Carricante varietal. It has super crisp and sharp lines, with a taut, citrus fruit character that’s mellowed nicely with flavors of ripe summer peach. A backdrop of crushed stone enlivens the lingering finish.

Chemistry 2018 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) $19.99

Chemistry is a joint effort of two of Oregon’s premier wineries, Chehalem and Stoller Family Estate. The wine offers fresh aromas of dark berries and baking spices. It’s bright and silky on the palate, with alluring flavors of cranberries, red cherries and strawberries.

Old Soul 2018 Petite Sirah (Lodi) $12.99

A robust and ultra-juicy Petite Sirah, this was made with grapes sourced from Lodi’s signature 50 to 100 year-old vines. It’s a lush and jammy red with juicy blackberry, plum and mocha flavors, a soft mouthfeel and velvety tannins that carry it to a rich, lasting finish.

Dave Phinney Locations “E” (Spain) $19.99

Phinney’s Locations “E” is a blend of Garnacha from Priorat, Tempranillo from Rioja and Carignan from the Ribera del Duero. On the nose, aromas of dark cherry and exotic spice notes mingle. The entry is rich with youthful berry compote, floral and plum character supported by bright acidity. The finish is long and pleasing, with a persistent mocha tinge and silky tannins.

Secoli 2017 Amarone (Veneto, Italy) $34.99

Secoli 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella offers a deep, lavishly dimensioned bouquet that teems with hints of leather, violets, dried cranberries, cloves and black tea. It’s dense and concentrated in the mouth yet not heavy, with a gracefully agile, ripe black fruit quality supported by dusty tannins.

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS

Ruffino 2016 Modus Toscana Rosso (Tuscany, Italy) $24.99

Ruffino’s Modus is a ‘Super Tuscan’ blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. It has an abundantly ripe dark fruit character, with superb balance and freshness along with classic Tuscan warmth and spice. Flavors of black currants and wild berries, balsamic accents and toast mingle on the finish.

Schlumberger 2016 Gewürztraminer Les Abesses (Alsace, France) $24.99

Exotic aromas of lychees, orange blossoms and spices leap forth from this dry Alsatian Gewürztraminer. Ripe, round fruit flavors of white pear, lychee, tangerine and kumquat are lifted by its bright acidic structure into a lingering, rich and wonderfully spicy finish.

Penley Estate 2016 Atlas Shiraz (Coonawarra, Australia) $19.99

Ripe black and red fruits dominate the nose of this Coonawarra Shiraz, with scents of mulberry, plum, raspberry and blackberry. Spice tones of black pepper pop through the dense fruit, plus a smattering of exotic cinnamon and star anise. Creamy toasted oak underpins the concentrated fruit flavors, adding a nice touch of complexity.

Modern Times Brewing Starcloud Hazy IPA (San Diego) $4.99

There’s simply no way to adequately prepare your taste receptors for the jaw-dropping deluge of flavor contained herein. Packed with financially irresponsible amounts of incredibly choice Citra, Cashmere and Motueka hops, this Hazy is a miraculously tasty juice-bomb, replete with notes of tangerine, lime, citrus and tropical magic. It’s a seriously excellent combo that may leave you with an intense desire to high-five the can!

Cheers!

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