Wine Advisor
Le Macchiole, Paleo Rosso 2020
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
One of Italy's best Cabernet Francs, the Le Macchiole 2020 Paleo is very dense and richly concentrated with a level of dark fruit that can only be chipped at and broken down by slow cellar aging. Paleo is always a wine for the long haul. The oak needs time to integrate and find focus. Even at this young stage, the quality of the tannins and the spot-on fruit ripeness is convincing. A note of sweet cherry, exotic spice and dark chocolate make for a long send-off.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
To hit the market in March 2024, we still have a long way before the release of the Le Macchiole 2020 Paleo. At this young stage, we are looking at a beautifully intense and rich Cabernet Franc with dark fruit and a true sense of linearity that comes through thanks to chalky minerality and dusty notes of pencil shaving. Cinzia and her late husband Eugenio Campolmi saw the potential of this grape in Bolgheri and how well it was adopted to the climate. They started to make a monovarietal wine in 2001. They recognized that the grape could express itself without the green or vegetal notes it sometimes renders and without excessive oxidation that can also be an issue. The Paleo formula was perfected over the years to achieve these iconic results.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Paleo Rosso is classy, elegant and wonderfully polished. Crushed flowers, spice and blood orange lend brightness. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, Paleo Rosso offers tons of depth. Historically it has aged quite well. I expect that will be the case here also, as the 2020 exudes balance from start to finish. The 2020 spent 18 months in 100% French oak, with 5% of the wine aged in amphora.
About the Producer
“Le Macchiole is renowned for its Messorio which is without a doubt one of Italy’s most charismatic Merlots.” - James Suckling Founded in 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli, Le Macchiole was one of the first wineries to be established in Bolgheri, in Tuscany. The ongoing development of this 24 hectare, organically farmed estate, has enabled the winery to become a leading Italian brand. Now under the leadership of Cinzia and her talented team, there is a rigorous approach to everything that they do. This shows itself in championing single varieties in their very top wines, in planting density and viticulture, harvest and wine making. One variety, one wine, is the philosophy adopted by the winery. All the Macchiole’s top wines are single-varietal bottling: Using Syrah to produce Scrio, Merlot to make Messorio and the Cabernet Franc is kept for the iconic wine, Paleo Rosso, recognized as one of the finest examples of Bolgheri winemaking.
