Le Macchiole - Paleo Rosso 2020 (750ml)
Price: $169.00
| Producer | Le Macchiole |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Subregion | Bolgheri |
| Varietal | Cabernet Franc |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 8699 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Enthusiast: 98 Points
A riot of pepper lights up the nose from cracked black to green peppercorn to hot chili. Flint and leather undertones empower the heat while aromas of raspberry jam and vanilla provide balance. The palate stays spicy with snappy confident acidity but a sweetness lingers and a finish of chili and chocolate ties everything together. Transcendent. Drink 2030?2040 or beyond. ? Danielle Callegari
Vinous: 97 Points
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. - By Antonio Galloni on August 2023 Proprietor Cinzia Merli winemaker Luca Rettondini and their team turned out a sublime set of 2020s. Merli describes 2020 as warmer than 2019 especially in July but with more moderate temperatures beginning in August through the end of harvest. ''in years like these which are now common we have learned we have to use a lighter hand in winemaking" Merli told me. "Two thousand-twenty was also the first year we used alternative aging vessels for a small amount of the wine as we find 100% oak can be too much in a hot year" she added. In tasting I was deeply impressed with the freshness and vibrancy of the 2020s. Farming and winemaking come down to making the right adjustments in critical times. Le Macchiole certainly seems to have done that in 2020.
vWine Advocate: 96 Points
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. I enjoyed an epic tasting with Le Macchiole proprietor Cinzia Merli Winemaker Luca Rettondini and Vineyard Manager Elia Campolmi (Cinzia's son). We tasted three vintages each of the three headline wines Paleo (Cabernet Franc) Scrio (Syrah) and Messorio (Merlot). I gave final scores to the 2019s that are on the market now. I gave a range of scores to the 2020s that we tasted from barrel but I decided not to give scores (only initial impressions) to the 2021s because these still have a long way to go. The 2020s will hit the market in March 2024. The 2021s are gorgeous and I look forward to tasting these samples at a later date. Le Macchiole is organic although they are not currently certified. This will change in 2023 when the winery will obtain certification. The team is especially involved with maintaining the surrounding forests for the sake of biodiversity and for a more functional purpose in that these "green lungs" are beneficial to vine health. Published: May 31 2023
