2022 Poggio al Tesoro 'Il Seggio' Bolgheri Tuscany

The Seggio is a stream that runs down from the hills above Bolgheri and through Poggio al Tesoro's vineyards, washing stone and minerals into the clay as it goes. That mix gives the estate its mineral character, and Il Seggio is named for the stream that made it. The wine tastes like the ground: dark fruit, a mineral backbone, and tannins that grip without punishing.

The blend is classic Bolgheri: 50% Merlot for flesh, 20% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc for structure, and 10% Petit Verdot for spine. It's estate-grown, sustainably farmed, and aged about a year in French barriques. It drinks polished and complete at under thirty dollars, the kind of Bolgheri that doesn't make you choose between density and drinkability.

In the glass it's inky ruby, with dark plum and cocoa on the nose and a mineral seam through the center. The tannins are silky and coat without cloying. It's full-bodied but juicy and clean. The oak shows as vanilla and toast on the finish without taking over. This is fruit-driven Tuscan red with enough structure for a ribeye and enough polish to drink on its own.

It's my pick for Tuesday-night pasta or weekend steak night, when you want real Bolgheri character at an everyday price. Open it now and give it a good decant for the plush, velvety side, or lay a few bottles down: James Suckling expects it to come fully together after 2027.