Le Macchiole Paleo 2020

Le Macchiole Paleo 2020, the rise of Cabernet Franc

There is a bold expression of Cabernet Franc in the Paleo 2020, carried by long aging and an origin deeply tied to the Tuscan coast. I recommend it if you like structured reds, where fruit and spice move forward together with the mark of the wood. Here, there are no detailed tasting notes to invent: the available reference points rather outline the style and the way the wine is built.

Bolgheri, the terroir and the history of the Paleo

Le Macchiole is established in Bolgheri, one of Italy's important wine territories. The estate was founded by Cinzia Merli and Eugenio Campolmi, who helped make the region known. Their approach has evolved toward less extractive and more elegant wines, with vineyards farmed organically. The Paleo is made under IGP Toscana, as a Cabernet Franc monovarietal. Created in 1989, it was first blended from Bordeaux varieties; since 2001, it has been produced exclusively from Cabernet Franc. Its name comes from a wild herb of the Tuscan coastline, associated with the identity of the territory and with tenacity.

The grapes come from three plots, Puntone, Vignone and Casa Nuova, planted between 1994 and 2009. The vines are trained in Guyot or double Royat cordon. Production is limited to about 800 grams per vine, a low yield meant to obtain dense and balanced grapes. After a 25-day maceration with the skins in cement tanks, the wine ages 18 months in new oak barrels. The tasting indications place it at 7 out of 9 for fruit, spice, the influence of wood and body: a profile that is at once expressive, structured and marked by its aging. The color and precise aromas are not described in the available notes, so I prefer not to attribute a particular color or scent to it.

At the table, with generous flavors

I would serve this red with red meat or game, pairings suggested for the Paleo and suited to its robust body. A grilled cut, a braised dish or a game preparation can give it a place worthy of its structure, without trying to mask the wine under overly powerful sauces. It is a bottle to open when you have time to let it breathe and follow its evolution in the glass. The Paleo 2020 can also accompany a seasonal meal that favors good produce and slow cooking. If you want to explore Cabernet Franc in a Tuscan interpretation aged in wood, this wine offers a meeting point between Bolgheri, plot-by-plot work and the singular history of a cuvée that has become emblematic of the estate.