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Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

 

January is just about behind us, but there are still some things to do before the calendar turns. For instance, this Friday evening, January 31st at 7PM, another in the Winter Performance Series concerts will take place at the Yuma Art Center/Historic Yuma Theatre here in Downtown Yuma (254 S. Main Street). Not Fade Away, A Winter Dance Party Celebration will feature the classic tunes and unforgettable sounds of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper…along with hits by Bill Haley, The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, The Beatles and more. The playbill has this to say. “Get your saddle shoes and pompadours ready because you are in for an incredible night of Rock n’ Roll! With our guys (and gals) jumping up on instruments, soloing behind their heads, and playing powerful new renditions of these classic hit songs, this national act will have you dancing alongside them from coast to coast!” Call the Art Center at 373-5202 or check www.yumashowtickets.com

for ticket info. Sounds like a pretty great nostalgia trip down memory lane to me. See you downtown, and be sure to stop by the Wine Cellar on the way!

 

THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING:

 

Castelfeder 2018 Vom Stein Pinot Bianco (Alto Adige, Italy)   $19.99 The Castelfeder vineyards lie at an altitude of 2,000 feet above sea level with soils mainly composed of dolomite limestone, which imparts structure, elegance and freshness to this Burgundian grape varietal. The result is a lively, vibrant white with deliciously crisp white fruit flavors and a bracing minerality.

 

Napa Cellars 2017 Pinot Noir (Napa Valley)   $18.99 Napa Cellars Pinot is soft and velvety in the mouth, entirely inviting and mellow. The flavors are marked by delicious black cherry and raspberry fruit, plus complex notes of dried herbs and fennel.  A cool minerality and fresh acidity lead into a long and layered finish.

 

Château La Freynelle 2016 Merlot-Cabernet (Bordeaux, France)   $14.99 This blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet is a fine example of “basic” Bordeaux from a good vintage. The nose offers notes of blackberry and black currant with savory accents of toasted oak. The palate is balanced and refined, with silky tannins and hints of espresso and spice.

 

Quinta de la Rosa 2015 Douro Tinto (Douro Valley, Portugal)   $17.99 The 2015 Tinto is a blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, and 30% Tinta Roriz, aged for one year in a mix of new and used French oak. It has a vivid dark fruit character, well supported by its tannic frame. Solid black fruit flavors are laced with intense acidity that keeps the wine bright and crisp through the finish.

 

Penfolds Max’s 2018 Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon (South Australia)    $19.99 This deep magenta-hued blend of 64% Shiraz and 36% Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a nose of blackberry and powdered earth.  White pepper graces its inky espresso structure, inching its way through bold notes of plum and beetroot. Violets chime in mid-palate, while a meaty grilled sensation is spiced to the “max” on the finish.

 

Bootleg Wine Works 2014 Bootleg Red (Napa County)   $37.99 A blend of Syrah, Merlot and Petite Sirah, Bootleg Red offers a bouquet of kirsch, crushed blackberries and red currants, plus hints of black pepper and baking spices. A full-bodied palate offers juicy black fruit flavors with a peppery accent and round tannins, finishing on a spicy note.

 

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS:

 

Napa Bench 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)   $29.99 Napa Bench is a “benchmark” example of Napa Valley Cabernet. The wine opens with aromas of red and black cherries and raspberries. A lush and supple palate of black cherry, cedar, espresso and chocolate leads to a rich, complex and lingering finish.

 

Van Duzer 2018 Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley)   $17.99 This is a vibrant and delicious Pinot Gris, with a fine mineral edge. A fragrant nose of Bosc pears, ripe peaches and orange blossoms reminiscent of a fragrant citrus grove leads into a flavorful palate of lush white peach and citrus zest. The wine is juicy, rich and elegant, with crisp acidity.

 

Gérard Bertrand 2015 Art de Vivre (Rhone Valley, France)   $19.99 A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, Art de Vivre opens with aromas of spices, dark fruit, fennel and a hint of black olives. In the mouth it’s smooth and easy to drink, with polished, supple tannins that support black cherry, plum and wild raspberry flavors. Hints of balsamic and espresso add interest, along with a dash of minerality to enliven the finish.

 

Rogue Brewing Cherry Choctabulous Stout (Newport, Oregon)   $7.99 Cherry Choctabulous opens like a cherry cordial, gushing with luscious cherry aromas and flavors before giving way to an indulgent core of rich dark chocolate. The finish offers one last blast of cherry, before ending with a slightly bitter lingering bite of dark chocolate.

 

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

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