2008 Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso

Le Macchiole is a 55-acre estate in Bolgheri, on the western coast of Tuscany. It was established by Eugenio Merli with his wife Cinzia. Breaking the Tuscan tradition of planting primarily Sangiovese, the Merlis planted Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Eugenio died some years ago but Cinzia has continued to run the estate, which now also makes white wine. The flagship wine is Messorio, a Merlot. The estate also makes Cabernet Franc as well as a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese and Syrah. The white blend is a Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Gambero Rosso, Italy’s leading wine journal, has awarded its top rating of 3 Bicchieri to numerous vintages of Messorio. The journal has written that Le Macchiole has “a very long track record of turning out top-notch wines.”

Bolgheri is a tiny village just inland from the western Tuscan coast with a storybook renaissance castle but no train station. To wine enthusiasts, however, Bolgheri DOC is perhaps Italy’s most exciting wine appellation. It is the cultural heart of the Maremma, the coastal stretch of Tuscany where some of the first Super Tuscans were produced commercially in the late 1960s. Various members of the legendary Antinori wine dynasty and other influential producers established estates in Bolgheri starting in the 1970s, creating such Super Tuscans as Guado Al Tasso and Ornellaia. Bolgheri was awarded DOC status in 1983. Red, white and dessert wines are made in this appellations, and many of the most renowned are the Super Tuscans made from blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and other red varietals. The white wines are blends of Vermentino and Trebbiano. The reds are notable for being blends that have a distinctive Tuscan terroir.