Warm Wine for a Windy Winter

The story: We had quite a little event here in Pasadena this week. Cold winds, pushed down through the canyons in the San Gabriel Mountains by a high pressure system, whipped us pretty good. With speeds up to 92 mph recorded, Pasadena was essentially at the epicenter of one of the worst wind storms Southern California has seen in years. While we escaped the devestating potentials of wildfires, we sat in our creaking houses as hundreds of trees fell across the city - smashing cars, houses, and apartments, tearing up sidewalks and streets, ripping down powerlines, and generally reminding us of our helplessness in the face of nature.

It was intimidating. It was humbling in its requirement for us to sit and wait. The damage would be what the damage would be. And it made me think of a few bigger, warmer wines I have had recently that sure would have made the long winter night pass by a little easier. As snow and wind and rain and cold surround us for the next couple of months - here are some perfect winter wines to keep you cozy inside.

The wines - Trinitas Petite Sirah 2006 Old Vine Lodi is a jet black inky wine with a ruby red rim. The nose is big, gamey, and brimming with black cherry and hints of menthol. It warms you through the sip with dark berries, licorice, cocoa dust, earth and a big tannic structure. The finish does not disappoint, is a bit candied, hints of pencil lead, and stays toasty for a long memory after going down. This is a big wine, as petite sirah and Lodi are apt to provide, but is balanced and tasty. Looks like they still have some Jeroboams left of this vintage (which would be a blast during a winter get together) but the later vintages have been said to be as good as 2006, so keep your eye out.

Nothing warms and calms the soul like a good Port. And nothing represents Port-style wines better than an authentic Porto from Porto Portugal. Made of the traditional Port grapes (Touriga Franca, Tinto Roriz, and a whole list of Tourigas and Tintos) the Fonseca Bin No. 27 First Reserve Porto is a big, warm, chocolatey glass of goodness. The vibrant purple juice shows dusty blueberries, and prunes, rather bright fruit and mocha, and a velvetty texture. A bit of booze belies the fortification, but that is to be expected. Around a fire, and after a meal this wine is sure to please and keep the chill away (or bearable).

The verdict: While winter can bring some difficult or even scary weather, it also offers a lovely alternative setting in which to switch your wine consuming gears. The recommended wines above are two great examples of wines to purchase over the next couple of months, but there is a whole slew of big, ripe, higher alcohol wines that can fit this bill. It is common these days among wine geeks to praise a sense of balance that lighter, earthier, more acidic wines can bring to a dinner table - and I agree. But I also think there is a place for all wines that knit their components together well (whatever the constitution of these components may be) and cold, windy days offer me (and you) an opportunity for a whole different category. Stay warm and enjoy!

Disclaimer - The Port was provided as a media sample with intent to review.