2019 Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso IGT Bolgheri Organic, Tuscany

The Le Macchiole 2019 Paleo reveals an extremely precise and etched personality that is perfectly suited to this classic vintage. If you love Cabernet Franc, this is your wine. The bouquet is linear and tight with wet gravel, lead pencil and graphite that make an elegant frame around blackberry and black plum. You taste every last miniature detail in this complex and powerful expression. Fruit comes from a 5.5-hectare plot that rises from 37 to 70 meters above sea level. The soils are a mix of clay, sand, silt, stone and limestone that is characteristic of this stretch of Tuscan coastline. The wine is fermented in cement and aged in barrique for 20 months. On second nose, Paleo begins to offer cardamom pod, exotic spice and fragrant rose water. With 25,400 bottles made, you need to give this glorious wine time to age. Drink 2025-2050.”

 98 points Monica Larner robertparker.com Jul 2022

The 2019 Paleo, 100% Cabernet Franc, is a total stunner. Deep, plush and explosive, the 2019 possesses fabulous density and yet it is not at all heavy. All the elements are so well-balanced. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, mocha, espresso and grilled herbs all meld together in the glass. The purity and persistence of the flavors is absolutely compelling. The 2019 is seriously impressive. I loved it. Drink 2026-2048.

96 points Antonio Galloni vinous.com March 2022

Paleo was Bolgheri’s first pure cabernet franc back in 2001, and its success has inspired others to work with the variety, which now accounts for 16 percent of plantings in Bolgheri. Le Macchiole’s latest release is reminiscent of the stellar 2016 Paleo, highlighting cabernet franc’s best varietal features while showing a bit more richness than the previous vintage. The 2019 Paleo’s flavors of plum and raspberry are pure and piquant, suggesting the fruit was harvested at precisely the right moment. Accents of sweet tobacco, soft leafy herbs and cool graphite enhance the varietal expression of the wine as subtle spice notes emerge on the long, layered finish.

97 points S.J  wineandspritsmagazine.com Apr 2023

Note: 100% Cabernet Franc. Paleo Rosso arrived in 1989. It is the wine that has evolved well over time: born originally as a classic Bordeaux blend in 2001, eventually arriving as a 100% Cabernet Franc (from 3 different vineyards: ‘Casa Nuova’ planted between 1998 and 2009, ‘Vignone’ planted in 1999, ‘Puntone’ planted in 1994). This is a beautiful story of obstinacy in challenging the stereotype of Cabernet Franc, which is already difficult to produce, and even more so as a pure varietal wine. Yield is less than 800gr per vine. Fermentation and maceration for 20 days in concrete tanks then aged for 18 months in new oak barriques.