Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso 2018

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

First produced in 1989, this incredible wine is the symbol of the winery, and it truly epitomizes Bolgheri. At first, the wine was a classic Bordeaux blend but became a Cabernet Franc monovarietal in 2001; since then, it has been a huge success. The name “paleo” refers to a wild herb found on the Tuscan coast, and it symbolizes a strong local identity and the will to reach all goals.

Denomination: Toscana IGT

First Vintage: 1989

Grape varieties: 100% Cabernet Franc

Vineyards: Casa Nuova 1998-2009, Vignone 1999, Puntone 1994

Training System: double cordon spur and single guyot

Yield: 800 gr per plant

Winemaking: fermentation and maceration for 20 days in concrete tanks

Aging: 18 months in new oak barriques

About Le Macchiole

Dating back to the beginning of the 1980s, Le Macchiole is one of the historic wineries in Bolgheri, and over the years, it has become a reference point for quality Tuscan wine. Founders Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli were among the region’s pioneers, and they contributed in a significant way to Bolgheri’s growing fame thanks to their work in creating wines full of character and personality that have become a symbol of the region. Today, Cinzia runs the winery with the essential support of her sons Elia and Mattia, who have become an important presence at the winery, together with a close team of enthusiastic colleagues. They have become one big family that never ceases to innovate and surprise themselves and one another. Ever changing in order to remain faithful to its original vision, Le Macchiole is in continuous evolution thanks to a careful, contemporary reading of wine and terroir. The conviction to pursue organic farming and an increasingly sustainable approach; a style that has become more and more defined, favoring refinement and elegance; and authenticity and personality have all become the defining characteristics of an historic winery that is nonetheless always moving forward, and always aware of the times.

In the Vineyard

Le Macchiole’s history is entirely linked to its vineyards. From the beginning, extreme attention was paid to the land, and time served to increase the understanding of how nature is fundamental to the creation of an excellent wine. The winery only works with their own grapes, which come from vineyards that have been scrupulously selected over the years, now totally 64 acres located in various areas of the appellation. In essence, Le Macchiole’s team has created a mosaic of vineyards that together form a beautiful picture. The various small plots with unique qualities bring different nuances to the wines. Tapping into these raw materials is what creates Le Macchiole’s style year after year. Respect for the vineyards and the desire to highlight their diversity is what led the Le Macchiole team to choose organic practices, which are the foundation of a thoughtful, sustainable approach to agriculture. Their approach is tailor made and calibrated plot by plot and vine by vine thanks to the precision of their winemaking techniques, manual harvesting, and the double sorting of the grapes in the cellar. Le Macchiole does not make compromises, and this approach to their work is what allows them to vinify only the very best that nature has to offer.

The 2018 Vintage

‘Two thousand-eighteen is a highly intriguing vintage in Tuscany. The wines are gorgeous for their mid-weight purity and nuance. Stylistically, the 2018s remind me of the 2004s, but with a bit less richness, likely a combination of the weather and the gentler style of vinification that is so common these days. For readers who buy Bordeaux, the 2018s from Tuscany share many similarities with the 2014 Left and Right Bank reds. Readers will find wines built on linear precision and persistence more than size or opulence.

Weather was mostly moderate throughout the main appellations in Tuscany. Of course, Tuscany is a large region and conditions can vary widely from place to place. In 2018, the largest variable was rain, which shaped all of the wines in this article to varying degrees, as explained in the tasting notes. The late-ripening season produced wines with striking aromatics, medium-bodied structures and super-refined, silky tannins that make them a pure joy to taste even in the early going. A perfect example of that is Masseto, which is usually a much more potent, tannic wine at this stage, just after bottling. Solaia and Sassicaia are both deeply expressive aromatically.

Initially the 2018s I tasted for this article were all pretty tight, and only blossomed after having been opened for a day or two. In other words, 2018 is not an immediately flattering vintage. These are wines that are likely to require several years in bottle to show at their best.”

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Feb 2021

Where in the World is Le Macchiole?

Le Macchiolo is in the Bolgheri DOC due west of Sienna close to the coast. Bolgheri is located on the Etruscan Coast between the hills and the sea in a natural, overwhelmingly beautiful paradise. And it is in Bolgheri that Le Macchiole has been cultivating its vineyards since 1983. It was a territory that was literally discovered out of nothing; the brainchild of visionary experiments; a peripheral, unknown corner of the Tuscan coast far from the classical winemaking history of Tuscany that nonetheless became one of the most important players on the Tuscan – and Italian – wine scene. The first regulations for the appellation date back to 1983, while the DOC was established at the beginning of 1984. The characteristics of the land together with the dry, gently ventilated climate, the temperatures that are slightly lower than the rest of the Tuscan coast, and the unique brightness of the area all contribute to the definition of a typically Mediterranean environment particularly well-suited to growing varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah. Excellent results are also seen in the cultivation of Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Viognier, and Vermentino. The soils in Bolgheri demonstrate a high degree of variability, so much so that 27 separate soil types have been identified within the appellation. Most of the terrain in the area has clayey, sandy alkaline terrain with notable depth and a mineral skeleton that is very fine but nonetheless substantial. All of these are perfect conditions for the production of elegant wines with long aging potential.