The March edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday is being hosted by Joel of Wine Life Today who selected Comfort Wines as our theme. He simply called for us to unwind and relax with a favorite bottle of wine.

“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” –Benjamin Franklin

Since we all have different ways of relaxing and different wines that we enjoy relaxing with, all four of us Wine Peeps participated in this WBW independently. Each of us has written about our comfort wine and relaxing experience in our own words…

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Kori

Sydney, my 13 month old daughter, is asleep right now and I finally have a moment to sit down on the couch, relax, start reading a book that’s been on my nightstand for over a year, and sip one of my all-time favorite wines, the 2002 Peter Lehmann Shiraz. Too many times when Sydney is sleeping, I am frantically trying to get as much done as I can (paying bills, washing dishes, working on these blog posts, etc.) that I rarely take time for myself. This comfort wine theme was perfect in that it forced me to slow down and relax a little.

From the first sniff, this wine makes me completely relax. The aromas of black fruits, spice, and pepper permeate through my nose and go all the way to my toes, relaxing each part of my body along the way. In addition, it takes me back to wonderful memories of our time in the Barossa Valley of Australia. Blackberry, black currant, and pepper flavors dominate on the palate. This is an extremely well-balanced wine with bold yet smooth tannins, just the right amount of acidity, and a long, lingering finish.

Man, this is good stuff! I’m going to have to make time to enjoy this comfort wine ritual on a more regular basis.

2002 Peter Lehmann Shiraz
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: MadWine (Washington), $13.99 [2005 is the currently available vintage]; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

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John

When I’m not studying wine, I’m in the investment management business studying these crazy markets. I unwind at home in my sweats by sipping a good glass of wine while watching the sailboat races on Lake Union from my deck, reading a good book [currently I’m reading New Classic Winemakers of California], or going online where I browse sports, travel [fantasizing about my next trip Down Under], and wine.

My comfort wine is the 2004 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet. It’s a bright, fresh-looking sipper with nice aromas of fresh, ripe, dark fruit. It gets my attention early with its tannins, yet it morphs into a balanced wine with a long finish. When I’m drinking Koonunga Hill, I forget all of the problems in the world, the economy, and the stock market, and dream of my next evening in the Barossa.

Best of all, it’s a $7.99 bottle of wine that you can find almost anywhere. And where else can you find a wine at this price that will last 15 or 20 years? Let’s do the Koonunga!

2004 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine Exchange (California), $7.99 [2006 is the currently available vintage]; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

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Colby

My comfort wine is the Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot Cabernet. The price is right, averaging between $6 and $8 a bottle, and it is a great all around wine. The wine has a fragrant nose of red cherry and hints of minerality. On first sip it is fruit-forward and balanced with just enough tannins for a good body and a pleasant finish. After it has had a chance to breathe, you can expect the tannins to open up so you can experience its true complexity. It’s not overpowering but definitely not a wimpy wine either.

I typically enjoy this wine while watching TV, reading or working on our blogs (remember I’m the geek; computers are fun). This wine is one that I’ve enjoyed over the years, first while studying during grad school and now as an easy drinker that won’t break the bank. Give it a shot and tell us what you think.

2005 Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot Cabernet
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: WinoWorld (Idaho), $7.38 [2004 is the currently available vintage]; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

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LaGayle

Most evenings I unwind and relax with a book; my reading of choice is fiction. While I read I enjoy sipping a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, most often Nobilo. While many people might question a Sauvignon Blanc as a sipping comfort wine, it is those characteristics that it provides that I specifically like: the fresh, tart, grapefruity taste with the soft golden color. I do not like sweet or oaky flavors, but I love a crisp, cold white wine…even in winter!

2007 Nobilo Marlborough Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: MadWine (Washington), $9.99; probably can also be found at your local wine outlet

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