6/07/2021 Newsletter

Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

It’s gotten kind of hot here in the Desert Southwest, and it’s heading higher (117 degrees by early next week? Ouch!!) It seems like a good time to get the inner tubes inflated for a leisurely ride down the cool Colorado River here in Yuma. And as much as I like to tout wine, being the Wine Cellar and all, what you really need for that kind of excursion is beer – like for instance “hazy” IPAs. IPA, aka India Pale Ale, has been pretty popular locally for some years now, but only fairly recently have the hazy’s seemed to come to the forefront. Personally, I think they’re great – significantly less bitter than the standard “West Coast” style of IPA with just as much hop character, and of course that great “hazy” appearance – some of them look almost like orange juice in the glass! These are truly delicious and highly refreshing beers, and fortunately we have a nice selection here at the Wine Cellar (the one I mention in New Arrivals below is really excellent). So come on down an
d stock up before you head out into the heat – hope to see you soon!

FEATURED WINES THIS WEEK

Raeburn 2018 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) $22.99

Raeburn is classic California Chard – rich, elegant and expressive. The wine delivers a broad spectrum of complex fruit flavors that range from peach and Gravenstein apple to poached pears. All that fruit is complemented by a deft mix of toasted oak, vanilla and hints of crème brûlée, coming to a balanced, elegant and lingering finish.

Daou Vineyards 2019 Rosé (Paso Robles) $19.99

This is an elegant and fragrant dry rosé, offering bright aromas of sliced peaches, pears and nectarines on the nose, plus subtle hints of apricot and crushed rose petals. The palate gives enticing flavors of mango, Crenshaw melon and cherry.

Josh Cellars 2017 Craftsman’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (California) $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.

Rodney Strong 2016 Old Vines Zinfandel (Sonoma County) $18.99

This Sonoma Zinfandel begins with deep, lush aromas of cherries, blackberries and plums, with an enticing hint of vanilla. On the palate it’s classic Zin: big, dense and mouth-filling, packed full of ripe wild berry fruit enlivened by peppery, spicy accents.

Marques de Murrieta 2016 Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain) $24.99

On the nose, this Reserva offers exotic aromas of vanilla, cloves and cinnamon. The smooth and velvety palate exhibits abundant dark cherry and black plum fruit flavors, with exotic accents of fresh earth, tobacco and Indian spice that carry to the finish.

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS

John Anthony Vineyards 2018 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) $39.99

On the nose a bouquet of ripe orchard and tropical fruits is framed by notes of praline and honeysuckle. The mid-palate is broad and rich, with flavors of light citrus, vanilla bean and citrus crème brulee. The finish is nuanced and lingering, with touches of apple blossoms and toasted macadamia.

Luigi Valori 2019 Pecorino d’Abruzzo (Abruzzo, Italy) $14.99

Pecorino is an ancient Italian varietal that was assumed to be virtually extinct by the middle of the last century, but has since been rediscovered. Now widely grown in Abruzzo, it makes a crisp, fresh and zesty dry white with an array of delicious stone fruit and citrus flavors.

Juggernaut 2019 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) $19.99

Juggernaut Russian River Valley Pinot Noir offers a generous body and bold flavors of black cherry and pomegranate with a hint of baking spices. Aging in French oak for fourteen months lends accents of cigar box, vanilla and clove that enliven the finish.

The Hop Concept Haze Pipe Hazy IPA (San Marcos, CA) $4.99

The Hop Concept’s very first hazy IPA, Haze Pipe is unfiltered and unashamed. Brewed with a special assemblage of Simcoe, Mosaic, Citra, Amarillo, and Strata hops from Washington, Oregon and Montana, this begins with huge notes of grapefruit and tangerine. It finishes just as juicy, with the faintest hit of bitterness.

Cheers!

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