Here we are at the end of January 2024. The days are getting longer, little by little, and while we know spring is around the corner, we also know it tends to take its sweet time. There's no better way to beat the late-winter doldrums and dreariness than to cozy with your favorite big red wines. These are the wines that you can luxuriate in, that make great fireside sippers and that go so well with comfort foods like pot roast, meatloaf, mac-and-cheese, or a hearty French onion soup.

There are so many wonderful wines that qualify you may start to hope the weather stays nasty. A better idea is to enjoy as many of them as you can while the lousy weather is around. Get started!

Zinfandel checks the boxes for a full-bodied, big, dry wine that you can sink your teeth and soul into. One that's irresistible is the 2019 Klinker Brick. The grapes are grown in Lodi on vines over 100 years old. It's a Staff Pick here in the store, noted for its black cherry, plum, and blackberry palate. Coming in at over 15% ABV, it's a "pull up a blanket and stay awhile" wine.

When I'm asked for a recommendation for a California Cabernet, I often site St. Hubert's The Stag from Paso Robles. This is a wine you can savor on the nose as you get a burst of deep red fruit from the glass, but better yet, one you wish you could pour into a glass big enough that you could get in and swim around in. The Stag is one to really luxuriate in. Alone or with company, this is a wine you want to sip and converse with while staring into a roaring fire.

If you want to feel the South American sun in your wine, open up a bottle of the 2021 Spice Block Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. There's no better description than what's on the label: "...robust flavors of blackberry, black cherry compote with a slight hint of mocha yielding a velvety finish of very fine and supple tannins." Malbec is earthy and juicy in turns, making it an evocative choice. It's the perfect pairing with a grilled steak.

You can get that south of the equator sunshine in a bottle from Australian wines, too - most notably Shiraz. Exit 9 recently got in the 2021 Whitrow Barossa Valley Shiraz, and it's a doozy. The Barossa Valley in South Australia is an especially hot and arid environment where Shiraz is gaining a reputation for being bombastic and full-bodied, with notes of chocolate, pepper, and blueberry pie. The wine is a big 14.9% ABV, too. Light some candles and put on a favorite jazz station.

Another lovely big dry red to escape into is the 2021 Notios from the Gaia Winery on the island of Santorini, Greece, 70 nautical miles from Crete. Cozy up to the movie "My Life in Ruins" and pretend you're in this sun-baked land of turquoise skies, white-washed houses, and lovers of lamb - and life! It's hard not to resist Gaia's intention with its wines, which "every year, is for greater pleasure and a more intense experience." I'm in! The wine is made from a blend of Agiorgitiko (85%) and Syrah (15%). Agiorgitiko is an ancient grape with plush red fruit notes and soft tannins. The Syrah lends structure, intensity and balance. Broil some lamb chops and settle in.

(Mentally, I'm here!)

If classics from Italy and France are what you favor (and they're hard to beat!), there's the 2019 Capala Toscana blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from Tuscany in Italy. Whether you're in the mood for a simple pizza or you're going big with lasagna or osso buco, this wine will delight. From France, you can't go wrong with Bordeaux. The Guillon Graves is a favorite of mine. A Merlot-Cab blend (75/25), it opens up slowly, which I like, yielding subtle notes of cranberry, blackberry, and dark cherry. It's magnifique with steak frites or cassoulet or beef bourgignon. A must watch with your French wine and food on a cold night? The French series "Lupin" on Netflix. Next stop: Paris!

This time of year isn't so bad after all. See you on the wine side!