Soothing wines that will ease the holiday madness

We are officially in the frenzied season, this crazy-making stretch where we’re racing against time. Our to-do list is ever-expanding because celebrations require endless prep. There’s the holiday decorating, the gift shopping and the feast-planning. And that’s before we’ve even considered coordinating with the out-of-towners who will swoop in for the revelry.

As we belt ourselves into this roller coaster of holiday madness, there is something that will make the ride less bumpy. What we need to do, every so often, is take a break to uncork spectacular wines that make time stand still. Wines like these force you to live in the moment while you ooh and ahh over the supple texture, the generous fruit, the sassy finish. There is nothing like a good wine to make things right in the world.

Here’s a curated list of peace of mind wines:

Rodney Strong Rockaway, 2014 Single Vineyard Alexander Valley Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5%, $75. This is a complex cab with layered flavors of black cherry, thyme and tobacco. It has great bones –– structure –– and firm tannins. Yet it manages to have rich fruit and a supple texture. Smart.

Copain, 2016 Tous Ensemble Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, 13.7%, $28. This is a pretty pinot with layered notes of cherry, raspberry and plum. Balanced, with refreshing acidity. Supple texture. Nice length. Well crafted.

Anaba, 2015 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, 13.5%, $36. A lovely chardonnay with pitch-perfect balance. Notes of lemon custard married with citrus and mineral notes. Bright acid. Finishes crisp. Impressive.

Amapola Creek, 2016 Sonoma Valley Vineyard Grenache, 15.5%, $48. This is a grenache with a great tangy red fruits –– strawberry, raspberry and cherry. Crisp, up-front acid makes for great balance. The Amapola Creek has bright fruit that’s elegant as opposed to jammy. This grenache has a refreshing quench, which makes it a tasty food wine. A standout.

Husch, 2017 Mendocino Chenin Blanc, 12.6%, $13. Gorgeous aromas of stone fruit –– white peach and nectarine –– follow through on the palate. The Husch manages to be both lush, yet nimble, buoyed by bright acidity. The finish is irresistible, a coupling of citrus and honeysuckle. Lovely.

Enotria, 2016 Mendocino County Arneis, 13.5%, $15. Arneis means “little rascal” in the Piemontese dialect, and it’s an ancient white grape variety. It’s primarily grown in Piemonte, but this Mendocino County version is a beauty. It’s lush and fleshy, yet manages to be well balanced, buoyed by bright acidity. The arneis is aromatic with notes of anise, almond, pear and apple following through on the palate. Finishes dry. Striking.

Chappellet, 2016 Mountain Cuvee Proprietor’s Blend, 14.5 percent, $36. A silky Bordeaux-style blend with complex aromas and flavors. Notes of black cherry, plum, clove and coffee. Rich, yet balanced. Great bones –– structure. Nice length. Gorgeous. (The blend is 51 percent cabernet sauvignon, 24 percent merlot, 13 percent malbec, 9 percent petit verdot and 3 percent cabernet franc.)

These wines will keep you sane for the weeks ahead. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Wine is constant proof God loves us and wants to see us happy.”

Wine writer Peg Melnik can be reached at 707-521-5310 or peg.melnik@pressdemocrat.com.