5/17/2021 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

Following up on last week’s Newsletter extolling the virtues of white and rosé wines to help ease our transition to the inevitable scorching heat of a Yuma summer (one of which will be making its presence felt soon enough), I thought I’d take this opportunity to put in a plug for one of my favorite categories of wine – sparklers. They come in all the usual wine colors; white, pink and red, but the first two are what I’m talking about. If people think of sparkling wines at all, most seem to think they’re just something for special occasions. That’s maybe true for French Champagne, the undisputed king of sparkling wines (and by far the most pricey). But there are lots of other really good, and far more reasonably priced bubblies from all around the world, and we have a nice selection to choose from at the Old Town Wine Cellar. These are wonderfully enjoyable and very refreshing wines to enjoy on a weekend afternoon, or at the end of a long, hard and hot summer day. As with last week,
space doesn’t permit me to go into detail, so check the Wine Cellar’s Facebook page later this week to see some of my favorites. And as always, we hope to see you at the Cellar soon!

FEATURED WINES THIS WEEK

J. Wilkes 2018 Viognier (Paso Robles) $19.99

This white begins with aromatics of lime blossom, peach, Earl Grey tea and a touch of granite minerality. It’s nicely dry, with a silky texture and mild acidity. The palate offers a medley of ripe orchard fruit flavors, with the classic floral essence that Viogniers are renowned for.

Frescobaldi 2018 Pian di Remolè (Tuscany, Italy) $11.99

Remolè is a blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine opens with fragrant scents of red and black fruits, lifted by spicy impressions of black pepper and licorice. The entry is velvety and warm and the flavors on the palate are well balanced, with a satisfying vein of acidity.

Bodegas Garzón 2018 Tannat Reserva (Punta del Este, Uruguay) $17.99

For textbook modern Uruguayan Tannat, look no further. A ripe dark fruit aroma melds with flowers, while this is smooth and balanced on the palate. Blackberry and spicy plum flavors are lightly touched by oak and peppery spices, with a fine lingering finish that brings it all home.

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.

Austin Hope Cellars 2018 Treana Red (Paso Robles) $32.99

Treana shows a deep ruby in the glass and offers up-front aromas of ripe dark fruits and spice. Rich and expansive flavors of dark cherry and plum are accented by an exotic mix of mocha, tobacco and toasty oak accents. Depth and power come from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 25% Syrah lending an inviting silky softness.

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS

Beni di Batasiolo 2015 Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) $45.99

This Barolo offers a delicate and alluring bouquet of red raspberry and strawberry. The palate shows all the classic Nebbiolo character of ripe dark cherry and currant edged by savory accents of dried herbs, earth and fennel, on a firm, dry tannic frame.

John Anthony Vineyards 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Carneros) $19.99

Aromas of Fuji apple, lychee nut, honeydew melon and tangerine blossoms on the nose. On the palate, ruby grapefruit, yellow peach and tropical fruit flavors provide a crisp and clean character that’s framed with hints of lemon grass, citrus, and jasmine tea.

Alois Kracher 2017 Auslese (Burgenland, Austria) $25.99

Around the world, Kracher is renowned for making amazing, age-worthy dessert wines. This Auslese offers superb complexity with a lush, juicy tropical fruit character, a touch of lychee with a bracing mineral backdrop, and a lingering, citrusy finish.

Stone Brewing India Pale Ale (Escondido) $5.99

The classic “West Coast” IPA, first brewed in 1997, this golden beauty explodes with tropical, citrusy, piney hop aromas and flavors, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character. In the years since, Stone has stepped up their dry-hopping process to extract every bit of magic out of the amazing hops that they use. It’s just as fresh, bold and flavorful now as it was in 97…

Cheers!

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