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Query for the Mice

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A friend of mine is preparing to retire for the second or third (or fourth) time, and I want to get him just the right gift. He is a highly educated person (Harvard, no less), older (70’s) and a modest, yet sophisticated, person.

I’ve pondered what to get him for a retirement gift for days now, until this morning when I suddenly remembered he once told me he relishes an evening glass of chianti. He’s not a gourmet, but that gleam in his eye told me he really likes his chianti.

So, it’s decided: I’m giving him a bottle of chianti. Not a hideously expensive bottle—he would hate that, besides which I can’t afford it—but a goodly few measures above MD 20-20, if you know what I mean.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about chianti.

So I turn to you, fellow mice, knowing that your collective experience can help me determine exactly the right chianti for such a person, something he can enjoy without concern that he’s bankrupted me and without guilt because it’s so dreadful, he’s hidden it beneath the kitchen sink.

I offer my deepest appreciation in advance for any and all suggestions, fellow mice.


Categories: General.

/ 14 Comments

14 comments

  1. justme

    Today is my grading slash doing the laundry slash enjoying time with the hounds (aka going to the park) slash the ritual hour spent mourning that Monday is coming so soon day.

  3. slksfca

    …I believe there are a number of nice Chiantis from Italy that aren’t too expensive.

    I have a soft spot for the ones that come wrapped in a raffia basket. We had an empty one of those with a candle stuck in the top that Mom put on the table every time we had Spaghetti Night. 🙂

  5. Peter Jukes

    I’ve had some brilliant reds, but some goddam awful bitter ones too. You can pay a fortune for something crap, or next to nothing for something fine. Unlike France, Italian wines are more determined by the Chateau, not the appellation or cru  so you really need to know your stuff, which I don’t.

    But I know someone who does….

    Richard Bray is an American born Vintner who writes and blogs about wine in the UK, as well as producing his own mixes and vintages. He tells me that Cedro from Lavacchio is your best bet. There are two vintages here on a UK site, but he thinks they now have in importer in the US

  6. bubbanomics

    it’s a blend whose base is Sangiovese.  You can find a very nice Sangiovese here.  I’ve also had good luck with Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva.  Get the oldest one you can find (and afford).  

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