Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

I just want to remind everyone that Christmas is now but ten days away, and the time for gift shopping is growing short.  The Old Town Wine Cellar can help.  Fine wine makes a great (and very easy) gift.  And if you don’t know if the recipient prefers white or red, or dry vs. sweet, then a Wine Cellar Gift Certificate is the perfect choice – let them come on down to the Cellar whenever they’d like and pick out exactly what they want.  So be sure to stop by before Christmas Day is upon us and we’ll be glad to help you finish your Christmas shopping early.  And you can taste some great wine while you’re at it!

 

THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING (Tuesday through Friday):

 

La Soraia 2014 Gavi di Gavi (Piedmont, Italy)    $18.99
Gavi comes from a small growing area in northwestern Italy, near Genoa on the steep slopes of the Apennines mountains. Made from the native Cortese grape, it has a nose of almonds and citrus fruit, with a fresh, delicate and thoroughly dry palate.

 

Miraflores 2014 Misión 1853 (Sierra Foothills)    $23.99
This was made with 100% Mission grapes sourced from the Deaver family’s Misión Vineyard. Planted in 1853, it’s the oldest continuously producing vineyard in the United States.  Mission was the original wine grape planted in North America, used at the old Spanish Missions of Mexico and California to make sacramental wine. It a lighter-bodied and highly enjoyable red.

 

Hahn Winery 2013 GSM (Monterey County)    $14.99
“GSM” is a standard term in the wine biz for a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre crafted in the style of the great Chateauneuf-du-Pape reds of France’s southern Rhone Valley.  This one, from cool Monterey County, has a fine mix of dark fruit flavors and a spicy, peppery complexity.

 

Smith & Hook 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Central Coast)    $17.99
Fragrant aromas of plum and black cherry find a perfect balance with hints of vanilla, cola, cloves and cocoa dust.  On the heels of all the aromatic intensity come flavors of boysenberry, black currant, dark plum and mocha. The wine has supple tannins and a generous finish.

 

Four Vines 2013 Skeptic Petite Sirah (Paso Robles)    $18.99
This beautifully captures the essence of Petite Sirah, beginning with a nose that overflows with blueberry, violet, spice and sandalwood aromas.  The palate follows with a rush of blackberry, dark chocolate, peppercorn and licorice flavors that coat the mouth on a long, rich finish.

 

Coto de Imaz 2008 Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain)    $24.99
This Reserva is a deep ruby red with a garnet edge.  The nose is redolent of red cherry fruit with a hint of leather and spices.  On the palate, juicy cherry and brambly ripe berry fruit flavors are nicely uplifted by complex spice and oak accents.

 

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS:

 

Landmark Overlook 2013 Chardonnay (Sonoma County)    $19.99
The 2013 Overlook Chardonnay has a bright gold color with complex aromas of ripe pear, Meyer lemon, sage and lemon curd.  On the palate, upfront flavors of quince, Bosc pear, apricot and piecrust mingle with lively citrus notes in this crisply refreshing, elegant wine.

 

Landmark Overlook 2013 Pinot Noir (California)    $21.99
Landmark Overlook combines premium fruit sourced from cool growing sites in Sonoma, Monterey and San Benito Counties to beautiful effect.  With vibrant red fruit, velvety tannins and hints of spice from aging in French oak, it’s an elegant and supple California Pinot Noir.

 

Titus Vineyards 2012 Zinfandel (Napa Valley)    $29.99
This Napa Zin exudes aromas of spicy, briary dark fruit wrapped in exotic spice. The palate follows with ripe black cherry, blackberry and boysenberry fruit with a dash of pepper.  The mouthfeel is rich and full-bodied, with a spicy finish enhanced by vanilla, licorice and toast notes imparted by its aging in American oak.

 

Schmitt Sohne 2012 Riesling Spätlese, Piesporter Michelsberg (Mosel Valley, Germany)    $12.99
This fully-ripened Riesling shows intense scents of peach and apricot on the nose, with equally intense and vivid fruit flavors on the lush, juicy palate.  It’s balanced by a finely honed acidity on the fresh finish.

 

Cheers!

 

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

 

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http://www.yumawine.com