Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso 2023

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For fans of Super Tuscans, there may be no better bargain on the market right now. The intensely beautiful 2023 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso blends 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Syrah – hand-crafted from organic, estate-grown fruit. It drinks well above its original $50 price point, so finding it under $25 on three or more bottles feels almost illicit – but we'll take it. 

Bolgheri was once a quiet, overlooked stretch of the Tuscan coast, far removed from the region's more celebrated winemaking centers. Le Macchiole's founders, Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli, were true pioneers here – opening their winery in 1983, the very year the appellation received its official designation, and playing a meaningful role in building Bolgheri's reputation on the world stage. Today, Cinzia runs the estate alongside her sons Elia and Mattia and a close-knit team, with a firm commitment to organic and sustainable farming and winemaking at every step.

Bolgheri sits nestled among hills along the Etruscan Coast, where temperatures run slightly cooler than much of the Tuscan shoreline. Its dry, gently breezy climate proves ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah, as well as a handful of white varieties. The terroir is remarkably diverse – more than 27 distinct soil types exist within the appellation alone – though most plots share some combination of clayey, sandy, alkaline soils packed with mineral depth. Across their 86 acres, Le Macchiole tends each plot with exceptional care, working to honor and express its individual character.

This 2023 is endlessly inviting – light on its feet at just 13.5% ABV, yet layered and complex in all the right ways. Dusty blackberry and plum, dark cocoa, wet stone, dried lavender and thyme, freshly turned earth, and a whisper of black pepper weave together beautifully, carried by silky tannins and a lively thread of acidity that lingers. I found myself double-checking the price more than once – under $25 on three bottles is genuinely hard to believe for a wine that drinks closer to triple digits. And with free shipping on top of that? Three bottles should be considered the responsible minimum. For lovers of powerful yet poised, complex yet generous reds – grown and made with uncompromising care – this is the one.

FOOD PAIRINGS: Morally speaking, Italian comfort food is the only option here. My pick: beef short ribs braised low and slow with simple vegetables, fresh herbs, tomatoes, and a splash of red wine, served over thick ribbons of pappardelle.