Greetings from the Wine Cellar:

 

The Yuma Arts Center’s premier event of the year is almost upon us. The “Tribute of the Muses” will happen this Friday evening, October 12^th.  Now in its 18th year, this annual award ceremony and black tie soiree honors an outstanding member of Yuma’s arts community who has shown exemplary devotion and excellence in the arts.  Also presented is the Helios Award which honors an up and coming voice in the local arts community. The overall purpose of the event is to honor artists in the Yuma community who have made a real impact here.

 

The ceremony takes place in the Historic Yuma Theater and is free and open to the public.  A ticketed after-party follows the ceremony in the Yuma Art Center galleries.  The after party will feature music, libations and a silent art auction. This year’s theme is Studio 54.  All funds raised at the event will go directly towards programming at the Yuma Art Center.  For more information check out www.yumaartcenter.com or call the Art Center at 373-5202.

 

THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING:

 

Franciscan 2016 Chardonnay (Monterey County/Napa County)     $14.99 This is a bright, fresh Chardonnay, with intensely ripe fruit flavor.  A portion of the wine was made with native or “wild” yeasts.  That, along with malolactic fermentation and ‘sur lie’ aging, adds a rich and creamy character to the wine while oak aging gives a toasty, savory complexity.

 

Beckon 2016 Pinot Noir (Central Coast)    $17.99 Made with fruit sourced from Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, this Pinot Noir exudes lovely black cherry, strawberry and floral aromas.  It’s rich and full in the mouth, with a mixture of dark fruit and exotic spices, and a lengthy cherry-and-spice-filled finish.

 

Hahn Winery 2015 GSM (Central Coast)    $14.99 GSM is the standard name in the wine world for a mix of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes vinted in the style of the classic red blends of France’s southern Rhone Valley. This version from California’s Central Coast offers a fine mix of  dark fruits and spicy, peppery accents.

 

Dominio Basconcillos 2015 Viña Magna 6 Meses (Ribera del Duero, Spain)    $18.99 The Viña Magna is a vivid, deep crimson, attesting to the wine’s youth.  The nose is initially dominated by new oak, with aromas of fresh blackberries and raspberries emerging after some time. The palate is nicely balanced, with moderate yet firm tannins framing ripe berry flavors.

 

Cameron Hughes 2014 Lot 606 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)    $22.99 This opaque, black wine is classic Rutherford Cabernet. The nose features an aromatic mélange of blackberries, cherries, currants, dark chocolate and mint wrapped in lavender florals.  The palate is juicy and succulent, with ripe dark fruits and a finely knit yet resounding kirsch / mocha punch.

 

Dunham Cellars 2012 Syrah (Columbia Valley)    $35.99 The Dunham 2012 Syrah opens with a dense blackberry and plum-scented nose.  Blueberry, blackberry and plum fruit flavors accented by hints of cinnamon and nutmeg weave through the mid-palate.  Vanilla, cocoa bean and hints of kitchen spices mingle on a velvety finish.

 

NEW WINE & BEER ARRIVALS:

 

Hess Collection 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mt. Veeder / Napa Valley)    $59.99 The Hess Collection signature Mt. Veeder Cabernet is 100% sourced from their own Veeder Hills Vineyard.  Elevations range from 600 to 1,120 feet, and steep slopes and sedimentary clay and shale soils restrict root growth, resulting in intense, vividly rich dark fruit flavors.

 

Gérard Bertrand 2016 Picpoul de Pinet (Languedoc-Roussillon, France)    $16.99 This wine, made entirely from the Picpoul grape varietal, exhibits a yellow color with shimmering flashes. An intense, complex  nose offers notes of ripe fruits, citrus peel, honey and white flowers. It has a rich yet lively feel in the mouth with a remarkably crisp freshness that holds through the finish.

 

Bodegas Borsao 2016 Tres Picos Garnacha (Campo de Borja, Spain)    $19.99 This old-vine Garnacha offers rich aromas of black currant and candied cherries, and pick up vanilla and spice accents with air. Deeply concentrated dark berry and plum flavors are edged by notes of smoky minerals and floral elements, and a subtle peppery quality adds a nice touch of spiciness to a lengthy finish.

 

Tieton Cider Works Dry-Hopped Hard Cider (Yakima Valley, Washington)    $7.99 The Yakima Valley is known worldwide as a premier apple growing region as well as a prominent source of hops. Tieton chose a select mix of traditional and exotic hops to produce this unique cider. The result is a delicious medley of red apple and citrus fruit flavors with a nice kick of bitter hops.

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