LE MACCHIOLE, BOLGHERI
TUSCANY, ITALY 2020
Why Buy: Stunning single-varietal wines from the estate that's been called "The Boutique Bolgheri." Le Macchiole's wines are produced in very small quantities, and we are fortunate to have secured a selection of their current portfolio – including a 98-pointer and two 97-pointers. As always, these wines don't merely speak to their terroir; they sing it, and with full-throated, expressive power. They also possess the vanishingly rare power to carry you away from the noise and strife of the here-and-now.
What They're Saying: Jeb Dunnuck awarded 98 points to the Messorio 2020, calling it "luxurious and profound," an "impeccably well-detailed ... mouth-watering" wine with "harmonious layers" and "a finish that lasts for ages." He was equally as adoring of the 97-point Scrio: this is "a full-bodied but weightless" wine, he wrote, with a "buoyant and mouthwatering finish" that, more than merely memorable, is "haunting." Vinous reviewed the Paleo Rosso 2020, and was just as star-struck; in a 97-point rave, Antonio Galloni declared it "classy, elegant, and wonderfully polished," a wine that "exudes balance from start to finish."
The Story: Bordeaux varieties and blends are king in Bolgheri, and few do it better than Le Macchiole. Forbes has hailed it as "a sliver of France in Italy," and while it's true, it's perhaps more accurate, and more honoring, to say that their wines draw from the best qualities of both countries, becoming a category all their own. These are Super Tuscans of astonishing complexity and intricate nuance, of concentrated depth and expressive power, and it's little wonder that they continue to be the object of many a collectors' eye.
Our Tasting Notes: The estate's calling card, Messorio, is among the most celebrated and sought-after wines in the world, and has demonstrated, time and again, that Merlot can be so much more than a "softener" for Cabernet Sauvignon. As the exceptional 2020 vintage shows, this is a wine of incredible finesse and breathtaking character. The Scrio is right up there with it, a wine that seems to have been made to showcase just how stunning Syrah can be in the right hands and with the right terroir. Cabernet Franc has been an even more relegated grape, historically, but the varietal has proven to be a revelation in Bolgheri, and, more specifically, at Le Macchiole, where it has yielded vintage after vintage of aromatic, richly expressive wines, without the floral qualities or pungency that sometimes turn up in bottlings from cooler climes. This bottling is no exception. A stunner of a wine. It should come as no surprise that an estate that can turn overlooked or underappreciated grapes into magical expressions should also produce an extraordinary entry-level wine – but we continue to be amazed by the quality of its Rosso, which, as we see here, offers beautiful terroir character and surprising depth.
Fun Fact: Bolgheri was so little regarded in the 1980s that when Le Macchiole's founder, Eugenio Campolmi, told his parents he was leaving the family restaurant to grow grapes, they thought he was crazy.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Order yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2024. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY, or TN. The Bolgheri Rosso is not available in MA or select VA stores (206, 207, 220). This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, May 21st, 2024.