Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso 2023

Add 3+ bottles to your cart and receive an additional 17% savings!

For fans of Super Tuscans – there is quite possibly no better bargain than this! The intense and very pretty 2023 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso takes a blend of 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Syrah made in an artisanal style from estate-grown fruit. It drinks well above even its original price point of $50... and frankly, at this special price on three-plus bottles feels a bit naughty, but we won’t complain!

Bolgheri was once an unknown corner of the Tuscan coast, far from Tuscany's more prominent winemaking regions. Le Macchiole’s founders Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli were pioneers of the Bolgheri region, opening their winery in 1983 – the first year the appellation was regulated – and contributing to the growth and appreciation of Bolgheri wines on a global scale. Cinzia runs the estate today with her sons, Elia and Mattia, along with a quaint and tight-knit team, pursuing organic and sustainable farming and vinification practices.

Bolgheri sits among hills on the Etruscan Coast, with slightly lower temperatures than the rest of the Tuscan coastline. Its dry and gently breezy climate is extremely well-suited for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah, along with a handful of white grape varieties. With upwards of 27 soil types just within Bolgheri alone, the terroir presents a stunning array of diversity – though most of the terrain features some level of clayey, sandy alkaline soils overflowing with mineral richness. With 86 acres spread across the Bolgheri appellation, Le Macchiole treats each of their plots with the highest order of care and respect in order to highlight its distinctive qualities.

This 2023 is endlessly friendly and approachable at just 13.5% ABV. Dusty blackberry and plum, a shake of dark cocoa powder, wet concrete, dried lavender and thyme, tilled earth, and a touch of black peppercorn play so pleasantly together on the tongue, framed by whispery tannins and a spine of acidity that tingles yours. I kept re-checking my notes to make sure I got the price right. The special on three bottles feels mind-boggling for this wine, which certainly drinks closer to triple digits. Free shipping, too? If it were me – three would be the minimum amount required. For lovers of powerful yet elegant, complex yet amiable reds – grown and made with the highest level of quality in mind – you can’t do better than this!

PAIRING IDEAS: It feels like, morally, you have to go with Italian comfort food here. Beef short ribs slowly braised with simple veggies, fresh herbs, tomatoes, and a splash of red wine over thick pappardelle is my pick.