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Le Macchiole

Bolgheri Rosso 2023

Bolgheri

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Bolgheri Rosso is a refined, irresistible blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, serving as an introduction to the estate. The wine is, frankly, almost too good at the price. All the intensive artisanal work that Le Macchiole carries out in its vineyards and cellars benefits this wine, and despite more availability than its Paleo Rosso, Messorio and Scrio siblings, it sells out nearly as quickly. Bolgheri Rossi is also the youngest of Le Macchiole’s wines, first produced in 2004. The objective: to make a Bordeaux blend, but typical of Bolgheri.

VINEYARD

The natural fertility of the soil is mitigated by high-density plantings and weak rootstock, leading to a natural production of only 800-1000 grams of grapes per plant. All phases of work in the vineyard, from the pruning to harvest, are carried out by hand – a great deal of work, as each hectare of vineyard requires 850 hours of work every year.

WINEMAKING

Fermentation and maceration for 15 days in steel tanks

VINTAGE

The 2023 Bolgheri growing season began with mild winter weather and early budbreak, followed by spring rains and a hot, dry July. Frequent rains during flowering and fruit set caused lower yields, but grapes matured with perfect balance, achieving good phenolic maturity and moderate sugar levels. Though high humidity required extra effort to prevent mildew, the summer's cooler conditions and timely rains in August allowed for ideal ripening, resulting in healthy, well-formed clusters and a generally successful harvest.

TASTING NOTE

Intense fresh fruity notes on the nose and a slimmer texture, with firm yet very gentle tannins and an acid backbone that brings an amazing balance to the wine.

FOOD PAIRING

Pasta with red sauces, risotto with vegetables

Color

Red

Blend %

50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Syrah

Appellation

Bolgheri

Alcohol

13.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$42.99

Reviews

97

Wine Enthusiast - November 1, 2025 "Luxurious, rich, a little mysterious with scents hard to articulate even though they're very rare and specific, like ambergris or truffles, walking a line that's so close to things that should provoke disgust but instead excite and allure. Intoxicating."

92

James Suckling - July 23, 2025 "Fragrant and vinous, showing plums, black cherries, violets and a whiff of Mediterranean herbs. Juicy and velvety on the palate with medium body, good extraction and slightly dusty yet not dry tannins."

90

Vinous - February 1, 2025 "The 2023 Bolgheri Rosso is a very pretty wine. Crushed flowers, spice and mocha lift a core of red-toned fruit in this gentle, easygoing Rosso that shows the more refined side of Bolgheri. The refreshing style makes the 2023 Rosso a total delight. Drink it over the next handful of years."

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Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso Bottle Shot

Other Wines by this Producer

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Paleo Bianco

Bolgheri

First produced in 1991, Paleo Bianco is a silky, mineral-driven blend of Chardonnay (90%) and Sauvignon Blanc (10%). Perfect for pairing with seafood, this white is well suited to a medium to long aging in bottle.

Scrio

Toscana IGT

Scrio was born in 1994, out of Eugenio Campolmi's wish to produce a wine which would best express his vision of Syrah, his favorite grape variety. As all Le Macchiole wines, Scrio has an original personality and stands apart from Syrah grown in France or anywhere else - it is an extraordinarily compelling meld of deep and velvety Mediterranean fruit with cool climate aromatics and detail. Given the extremely limited production, Scrio is decidedly a hidden gem.

Paleo Rosso

Toscana IGT

Paleo Rosso has been called Italy's landmark expression of Cabernet Franc. This grape variety is growing internationally as a distinct bottling, but Bolgheri has proven to be the single best place in the world to do so. The Mediterranean climate and surroundings result in a wine of extraordinarily expressive, sensual, and textural fruits and savory spices.

Messorio

Toscana IGT

Messorio, a Merlot monovarietal, is the winery’s crown jewel. Its initial vintage was 1994, and since then it has received extraordinary acclaim, including a 100-point score from the Wine Spectator for the 2004 vintage. The name Messorio refers to the ancient Tuscan practice of wheat harvesting, the most important time of the year in the Bolgheri countryside - once it referred to wheat; these days, it is all about grape harvesting.