LE MACCHIOLE, BOLGHERI
TUSCANY, ITALY 2021
WHY BUY: The 2021 vintage in Bolgheri was, in Decanter's assessment, “one of Bolgheri's finest ever,” filled with wines of “impeccable finesse and poise," and Le Macchiole has, to no one’s surprise, delivered some of the best of that brilliant class. Our recent portfolio tour of this Super Tuscan master was a stunning showcase of their single-varietal, low-intervention approach, delivering the distinct minerality, terroir specificity, and swaggering energy that has become their signature. We’re thrilled to be able to bring you two from that vintage, along with their marvel of an entry-level wine, their Bolgheri Rosso 2023, a steal at $35 a bottle. Where some other wineries aim for an anodyne, international style, Le Macchiole makes wines of character, personality, and place. Wines that don't merely speak of their terroir — they sing it with full-throated power,
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: The Messorio and Paleo Rosso sent Wine Enthusiast into ecstasies. The publication awarded each 98 points, likening the former to "a lighthouse whose light is better appreciated not despite but because of inclement conditions” — a wine that "seems to shine more brightly under duress” — and writing, of the latter: “like all of the wines of Le Macchiole, the 2021 Paleo is coursing with energy, exuding a self-assured confidence that makes it stand out even in a category of wines that are defined by their unabashed bravado."
OUR TASTING NOTES: The Messorio shows that Merlot transcends its reputation as merely a Cabernet "softener," delivering incredible finesse and character. Notes of dark plum and blackberry emerge first, followed by an intriguing graphite minerality and hints of Mediterranean herbs. What impressed us most, in our recent tasting, was the animating tension between power and elegance, the way it coats the palate while maintaining so much lift. The Paleo Rosso elevates Cabernet Franc to the realm of the revelatory, with aromatics that leap from the glass — violets, dark cherries, and that characteristic Cab Franc note of pencil-lead — and rolling waves of ripe fruit that contain barely a trace of heaviness. Happily, in neither do we find the pungency that sometimes seeps into the wines of cooler regions. Even their entry-level Bolgheri Rosso offers beautiful terroir character — further evidence, as if we needed it, that Le Macchiole can work magic at any price.
THE STORY: Bordeaux varieties and blends reign supreme in Bolgheri, and few estates showcase them better than Le Macchiole. Forbes has rightly hailed it as "a sliver of France in Italy," but these wines create a category entirely their own — Super Tuscans of uncommon complexity and nuance. When founder Eugenio Campolmi left the family restaurant to grow grapes in then-obscure Bolgheri, his parents thought he was nuts; according to conventional wisdom, Bolgheri was a region with precious little to offer, and a dim outlook for long-term success. Four decades later, no one is laughing, and both Bolgheri and Le Macchiole are prized for their wines. And the estate, refusing to slip into the grand, patrician role of standard-bearer, continues to innovate with techniques like amphora fermentation, all while never veering from its passionate commitment to single-varietal expression.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: Think classic Tuscan cuisine when it comes to the Messorio and the Paleo Rosso: a wild boar ragù, a plate of herb-crusted lamb chops, roasted duck or goose with thyme and sage. With the Bolgheri Rosso, a wood-fired pizza or a pasta tossed with porcinis is the way to go, and we say memorably, at that.
FUN FACT: The first Le Macchiole wine was an all-Cabernet Franc expression of Paleo, making them the first winery in Bolgheri to feature the varietal that prominently.
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 Fall 2025. 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. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Monday, June 9th, 2025.