2018 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso Tuscany 750 ml

Le Macchiole is one of Italy’s star wineries, known for their 100-point bottlings, Messorio and Scrio—iconic expressions of Tuscany’s coast that command the attention of collectors across the globe. Vinous’ Antonio Galloni called them the “true summit of excellence” for their profound range of reds—and most of their wines are priced accordingly.

Yet while Messorio easily runs $250 and challenges Ornellaia’s $800 Masseto for the title of best Merlot in Italy, you can put some of Macchiole’s magic in your cellar for far, far less with their rich, silky Bolgheri Rosso. 

A Bordeaux-inspired blend with an Italian soul, its outlandish value makes it a highly sought-after wine. This is like buying an Hermès scarf for a Benjamin—no wonder we had to fight for every single bottle in our allocation.

Elegance and luxury come through in every drop, with aromas of baked plums, bright currants, and cocoa combined with echoes of the wild sage and thyme that grow near their beautiful estate. The palate is silk—Merlot provides elegant texture and chocolatey, plummy fruit, while Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc bring flavors of cassis, herbs, and a powerful finish to the table.

We love how Le Macchiole manages to bridge Old World character with New World ripeness and power. Wine Spectator had similar praise for that tension in the wine, noting Le Macchiole’s appeal comes from an "almost New World character [with] savory and wild herb notes strongly rooted in Tuscany"—exactly what Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli envisioned when they founded their groundbreaking winery near the Tuscan coast in 1983. Since then, Bolgheri has gone from Italian afterthought to one of the most glamorous regions in the wine world, but Le Macchiole continues to set the pace with their “decidedly artisan scale and approach,” in Antonio Galloni’s words

That indicates a commitment to excellence you’ll scarcely find elsewhere. Le Macchiole plants grapes at up to 10,000 vines per hectare, forcing them to dig deep into the Tuscan soil as they compete for water, which is an expensive way to farm. Likewise, using organic principles in the vineyard demands extra labor—as does an uncommon double sorting of the grapes when they come into the winery.

For an expensive wine like Messorio, their costs are easily justified with exorbitant prices, but this Rosso receives the exact same treatment in both the vineyard and the winery as its extravagant siblings. Additionally, aging in top-quality, second- and third-fill barriques provides a rare level of polish without overtly oaky flavors, so this Bolgheri tastes like its home—and luxury—first and foremost.