2022 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso

Le Macchiole is a relatively small domain (24 Ha) in the Bolgheri in Tuscany in Italy. The domain was founded in 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli. Before 1983 Eugenio's father and grandfather already produced wines, mainly for his own use. The name "Le Macchiole" means "The place where everything started". The domain is best known for its wines, especially wines made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. With the 1987 harvest, the first wines were put on the market commercially. Especially in these early years, Eugenio and Cinzia produced multi-grape wines, focusing on Bordeaux blends. From the mid-1990s, they specialized in wines made from a grape variety.

Unfortunately Eugenio died in 2002, he was only 40 years old. At the moment, “Le Macchiole” is headed by his widow Cinzia. The first wine made under her leadership (since 1994) is the Messorio, a 100% Merlot wine that has been aged in wooden barrels (barriques) for 20 months and bottled without filtration. It is without doubt one of the best Merlots from Italy and can be compared to the best Merlots from Bordeaux. Total production is approximately 9000 bottles per year.

The Paleo Rosso is a wine that is all made from the Cabernet Franc grape, in the early years of this release the wine also contained small parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and / or Sangiovese. The wine was first released in 1989 and has been aged for 18 months in wooden barrels. The Paleo Rosso is one of the very best Cabernet Franc wines worldwide! Total production: 25000 - 30000 bottles.

The Scrio is the third wine from Le Macchiole, made from 100% Syrah. This wine can also compete with the best that can be made of Syrah, the style resembles that of the Rhône Valley in France. The first edition was in 1994, production is very limited: only 6,500 bottles.

Le Macchiole has become a reference for Bolgheri. In 2008, their top wine Messorio in WineSpectator was rated with 100/100 points.

Red wine is made from blue grapes. The wines get their dark colour from the skin of the grape, which ferments with the grape juice. The intensity of the colour is determined by how long the juice has matured; a young red wine will have a somewhat purple colour, while older wines tend to be more orange or brown-red.

With around 10,000 varieties of grapes worldwide, you can go in all directions.

The most well-known blue grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah / Shiraz.

Types of red wine

There are many different types of grapes with different characteristics and aromas. The differences within grape varieties are due to the difference in climate, the soil where the vines are planted, and the amount of sun.

The end result is in the hands of the winemaker. During the process from juice to wine, the winemaker still has a lot of options to change the final product into what he wants to put on the market.

The upbringing of the wine plays a major role in this. After fermentation, the process of raising and maturing the wine begins. There are many options for influencing the wine, but the most well-known concerns the ageing in wood.

If the winemaker chooses to raise the wine on wood, many things come into play. The first choice is whether new or older barrels will be used. Older, used barrels release less or no more aromas and tannins, but they still have an oxidative function. New wood barrels let in dosed oxygen and ensure that the wine has aromas and tannins. This is more intense with smaller barrels than with large wooden barrels.

Dry red wine

The most famous red wine is a dry red wine. The number of grape varieties and different taste profiles are enormous. There is a nice glass of red for every moment.

Sweet red wine

Just like sweet white wine, there is sweet red wine too! They are a lot rarer than dry red wines. If you want to try something different, it's definitely worth a try.

Alcohol-free red wine

Non-alcoholic wine is becoming more and more popular. Whether it is red non-alcoholic wine, white non-alcoholic wine, or sparkling non-alcoholic wine, more and more attention is being paid to it. Perfect for a cosy drink during pregnancy, or during a non-alcoholic month!

Red wine Gift

Red wine is fun to give, and even more fun to receive! Grandcruwijnen has ready-made wine gifts to make your gift recipient happy ;)

If you have your eye on a bottle of wine, at Grandcruwijnen we also have gift packaging to complete your gift! If you've found something you like, you can easily add a gift card during checkout.

Buy red wine online

At Grandcruwijnen you can easily buy red wine online. In our range, you will find products from the well-known grape varieties. If you want to buy a nice red wine, you have come to the right place at Grandcruwijnen. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us!

Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape variety. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a very well-known grape and gives a full flavour and a dark colour. The ripening process is very important.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most recognized grape varieties for red wine. The grapes are grown in almost every major wine-producing country in a wide spectrum of climates, from Australia, Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, to even China. 

Although the grapes are grown worldwide, most Cabernet Sauvignon grapes come from France, Chile, Australia and South Africa.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape ripens late, which is why it thrives best in warm climates. In Bordeaux it is just fine, especially in the relatively warm Entre-Deux Mer and on the dry gravel soils of Médoc and Graves. 

What does a Cabernet Sauvignon wine taste like?

The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most well-behaved boy in the vineyard. He rarely abandons his owner. A Cabernet Sauvignon always gives scents and flavors of blackcurrant and spicy aromas. The difference of which aromas emerge is decided during the maturation process. If a Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in small wooden barrels, then more aromas of coffee, spices and toast will come to the fore.

What temperature should you drink Cabernet Sauvignon?

Over the occasion, a red wine should be drunk at a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature. A Cabernet Sauvignon's ideal serving temperature is 16°C, but the aromas of the wine will come out well between 15 and 18°C. 

The Merlot grape is originally a real (right bank) Bordeaux grape and the most planted grape in France. In many cases, this grape is mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot is known for its smooth and easy wines that are also full-bodied and powerful.

Today's red wine drinker likes to drink his bottle of red wine young and be able to enjoy a full taste. The Merlot is ideal for this.

What does a Merlot taste like?

The Merlot is a soft, supple red wine with fairly neutral tannins and acidity. The taste of this red wine is mainly recognizable by cherries, berries and plums. This wine contains less tannin than the Cabernet Sauvignon, making it easier and younger to drink. Due to its low acidity, the Merlot can also be used as a table wine.

Sangiovese is the predominant red grape variety in Tuscany. Sangiovese is a real chameleon grape, which you can encounter in different guises. You will find both dry and sweet still wine, but this grape variety also provides different taste styles within the dry wines, depending on the region and appellation in which the grape is grown, and on the vinification method.

What does the Sangiovese taste like?

Sangiovese wines adapt very much to the climate, but in every wine there are always a number of recognizable characteristics. Sangiovese always has a lively acidity, a very full taste of sour cherries and often some Mediterranean herbs of oregano, thyme, but sometimes eucalyptus. In addition to the acidity, there are also quite a few tannins in sangiovese, which makes it a good addition to your food and allows the wine to age well. Both the acids and the tannins are good preservative substances in the wine. Sangiovese is all about Italy: you can smell recognizable aromas of cherries, figs and cranberries, but sometimes even tomato, earthy notes and hints of coffee, leather and herbs when aged in wood.