Le Macchiole Bolgheri Rosso 2022

Le Macchiole is one of the leading estates of Bolgheri, on the Tuscan coast, a family project begun by Eugenio Campolmi in the 1980s and now run by Cinzia Merli and her children. This Bolgheri Rosso is a Bordeaux and Rhône styled blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The maritime coastal climate, warmed by the sea and cooled by breezes, ripens the fruit fully to 14.5% alcohol while retaining freshness. The vines are farmed organically, and in the cellar the estate favours less extraction and less new wood, a lighter hand that keeps the wine detailed rather than heavy. Barrel ageing rounds the tannins and knits the varieties together, adding cedar spice through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is a deep ruby. The nose shows dark plum and red berry, with black pepper from the Syrah, tobacco, a cocoa edge and a herbal Mediterranean lift. The palate is full bodied and structured, with ripe firm tannin, fresh acidity and a savoury, gently oaked finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It is built for grilled and roast red meats.