Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since we last posted to this blog. During this time we've certainly enjoyed plenty of wines but we've been working on our other web sites and restoring our 100 year old house and, simply put, something had to give. Updating this blog seemed to be the thing that fell to the bottom of our list of priorities.

Since our enjoyment of wine hasn't flagged, it's about time we shared a favorite of ours. Now I have to say that Chianti's are a real bone of contention between Wife and Husband. Wife seldom enjoys a bargain Chianti (and she's not shy about expressing her opinion when one of Husband's wine selections doesn't measure up). On the other hand, Husband is much more forgiving of modest Chiantis if the wine at least suits the meal. The good news is that here we have a wine that we both agree on: Basciano Chianti Rufina 2008.

Let's start with a description from the Wine Spectator (who, by the way, rated this wine a 90): "Smoky and intensely fruity, with a light grilled meat undertone. Full-bodied and silky. Ready to drink now." We would add that this wine is almost chewy, with a touch or raisins. Good Chiantis always have a touch of spice and this one is no exception.

The last time we had this wine we went real old school: spaghetti and meatballs with Chianti. The only thing missing was the red and white checked table cloth. I have to say though, this meal was anything but boring. Husband's 90 year old father contributed a classic slow-simmered meat sauce, a family favorite. Husband made the meatballs (consensus: good but not as good as his dad's). The sauce had a nice hot red pepper zing to it and the meatballs were loaded with spices. The wine provided a solid accompaniment and, with its smooth rich finish, a nice counterpoint to this hearty meal.



The Basciano Chianti Rufina is at the higher end of our price range but it is easily found between $12 and $14 which, given its level of quality, still qualifies it as a bargain. This wine is robust enough to accompany meat dishes as well as pastas and many other Tuscan style meals. It is much richer and more substantial than the Chiantis found in the $8 to $12 range. And let's not forget that this wine could help keep the peace between husbands and wives and that is certainly worth a premium.