2020 Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso

Le Macchiole is a relatively small estate (24 hectares) in the Bolgheri region of Tuscany, Italy. The estate was founded in 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli. Before 1983, Eugenio's father and grandfather had already been producing wines, primarily for their own use. The name "Le Macchiole" means "The place where it all began." The estate is best known for its varietal wines, particularly those made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah. The first wines were commercially released with the 1987 harvest. Especially in these early years, Eugenio and Cinzia produced wines from multiple grape varieties, with an emphasis on Bordeaux blends. From the mid-1990s onward, they specialized in wines made from a single grape variety.

Sadly, Eugenio passed away in 2002 at the age of only 40. Currently, "Le Macchiole" is run by Cinzia, his widow. The first wine produced under her leadership (since 1994) is Messorio, a 100% Merlot wine aged for 20 months in wooden barrels (barriques) and bottled without filtration. It is undoubtedly one of the finest Merlots from Italy and is comparable to the finest Merlots from Bordeaux. Total production is approximately 9,000 bottles per year.

The Paleo Rosso is a wine made exclusively from the Cabernet Franc grape. In the early years of this release, it also contained small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Sangiovese. First released in 1989, the wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels. The Paleo Rosso is among the very best Cabernet Franc wines in the world!

Scrio is Le Macchiole's third varietal wine, made from 100% Syrah. This wine, too, rivals the best Syrah wines available, with a style particularly reminiscent of France's Rhône Valley. First released in 1994, production is extremely limited: just 6,500 bottles.

Le Macchiole has become a benchmark for Bolgheri. In 2008, their flagship wine, Messorio, was rated 100/100 in WineSpectator. The entry-level Rosso "Le Macchiole" now also falls under the DOC Bolgheri appellation and contains Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. "Introductory" is actually a bit of an insult, because the Rosso is a very fine Bolgheri, and unlike Messorio, Paleo, and Scrio, this wine is still reasonably priced.

First produced in 1989, the Paleo truly embodies Bolgheri. Initially a classic Bordeaux blend, it became a monovarietal Cabernet Franc in 2001 and has since become a cult wine. The name "Paleo" refers to a wild herb found on the Tuscan coast and symbolizes Le Macchiole's strong local identity. Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso gives you every reason to fall in love. A 100% Cabernet Franc, it boasts an impressive palette of flowers and red fruit. The nose even reveals a hint of dried lavender, all perfectly balanced yet intense. The wine boasts polished tannins and is almost monumental on the palate. Give it five years and it will develop even further, and decanting is recommended in its younger years.