2022 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso

Le Macchiole is a relatively small estate (24 Ha) in the Bolgheri in Tuscany, Italy. The estate was founded in 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli. Before 1983, Eugenio's father and grandfather already produced wines, mainly for their own use. The name "Le Macchiole" means "The place where it all began". The estate is best known for its varietal wines, especially the wines made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. With the 1987 harvest, the first wines were commercially marketed. Especially in these early years, Eugenio and Cinzia produced wines from several grape varieties, with an emphasis on Bordeaux blends. From the mid-1990s, they specialized in wines made from a single grape variety.

Sadly, Eugenio passed away in 2002, he was only 40 years old. At the moment, “Le Macchiole” is managed by Cinzia, his widow. The first wine made under her management (since 1994) is the Messorio, a 100% Merlot wine that was aged for 20 months in wooden barrels (barriques) 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. The total production is around 9000 bottles per year.

Le Macchiole has become a reference for Bolgheri. In 2008, their top wine Messorio was rated 100/100 in WineSpectator. The entry-level wine Rosso 'Le Macchiole' now also falls under the DOC Bolgheri appellation and contains merlot, cabernet franc and syrah. Entry-level is actually a bit insulting because the Rosso is a very fine Bolgheri and unlike the Messorio, Paleo and Scrio, this wine is still reasonably priced.

The Le Macchiole Rosso has matured for 6 months in 1st and 2nd year barriques. In the glass the wine has a beautiful garnet red color with some purple hues. In the nose this beautiful Bolgheri has light spicy accents of green pepper with a light vanilla tone and pleasant red fruit aromas. Very elegant and refined. This is a very nice Rosso made by one of the very best wineries in Bolgheri.

FACT: The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will often also receive a nice discount . You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht almost next to the A16 with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.

You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous and Wine Spectator via the links next to the image. A free service for our customers. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for customers of Grandcruwijnen.

• Grilled entrecote with rosemary and sea salt
  The ripe tannins and dark fruit of the wine complement the juicy structure and spiciness of the entrecote beautifully.

• Pasta bolognese with parmesan cheese
  The rich meat sauce and salty cheese find a perfect balance with the firm structure and fruity notes of the Bolgheri Rosso.

• Pizza with prosciutto, arugula and parmesan shavings
  The combination of hearty meat and fresh arugula goes well with the lively freshness and subtle spiciness of the wine.

• Eggplant parmigiana
  The layered flavours of roasted aubergine, tomato and cheese are enhanced by the full and juicy character of the wine.

• Ossobuco with gremolata and saffron risotto
  The rich, gelatinous texture of the ossobuco and the fresh citrus notes of the gremolata are beautifully carried by the structure and finesse of the wine.

• Wild boar ravioli with sage butter
  The earthy flavours of wild boar and aromatic sage perfectly complement the deep fruit tones and spicy complexity of the wine.