2018 PALEO Rosso Le Macchiole, Lea & Sandeman

PALEO

2018 Rosso Le Macchiole

Grapes Cab Franc
Colour Red
Origin Italy, Tuscany
District Maremma
ABV 14%

Combining varietal sensations of Cabernet Franc as well as sunny aromas recalling the Tuscan coast, this fantastic red opens with aromas recalling raspberries, black currants, Mediterranean scrub and violets. The smooth, delicious palate combines body and elegance, offering juicy blackberries, star anise and wild herbs before a saline mineral finish. Fresh acidity and supple tannins provide seamless support and balance. Rating: 97 Kerin O'Keefe, kerinokeefe.com (Apr 2025)


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A profound red, with earth and tar notes dominating black cherry, blackberry and herbal flavors. Tightens up midpalate, before dense, chewy tannins weigh in on the extended finish. Cabernet Franc. Drinking range: 2024 - 2042Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator (Jun 2022)

You could argue that this wine changed Italian wine, because it was the first to fully embrace the potential of Cabernet Franc in the bel paese. The Le Macchiole 2018 Paleo has a spicy and tangy personality with dark fruit, bitter chocolate and tarry smoke. Coming back to my open bottle 24 hours later, I got some green olive and rosemary essence. The mouthfeel fleshes out considerably, and there is beautiful structure to hold it firmly together. Other vintners in Bolgheri have told me of their difficulties with Cabernet Franc in the 2018 vintage, which saw rain toward the end of the season. This wine feels magically immune to those issues and probably means that the expert vineyard team harvested at the right moment. Drinking range: 2023 - 2045 Rating: 97 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Oct 2021)

Le Macchiole's 2018 Paleo Rosso is an unbelievably beautiful wine. It is also very young. The aromatics are total seduction, but otherwise the 2018 is quite reticent. Bright floral notes and red-toned fruit give the 2018 considerable energy and verve as varietal Franc aromas and flavors start to take shape over time. Readers will have to be patient. The 2018 needs at least a few years in bottle to fully blossom. Even so, it is pretty appealing today. Drinking range: 2026 - 2048 Rating: 96+ Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2021)

Le Macchiole

Initially put onto the wine map by Eugenio Campolmi in 1983, the Le Macchiole estate has been run by his wife Cinzia since 2002. In the heart of Bolgheri, with 22 hectares of vineyard over much of the best soils of the region these are, along with the Sassicaia and Ornellaia's vineyards, also among the oldest and most established vines in Bolgheri. Their careful selection of grape varieties and cultivation techniques according to climate and soil has led them to concentrate on Merlot, Syrah and most importantly Cabernet Franc, a variety which can express itself so well in the hands of Le Macchiole.

All of their wines are marked by a unique and unmistakable character. Full bodied wines, and yet with clean and elegant flavours, leading to great freshness and finesse, they are incredibly sought after world-wide. The estate has been organic since 2002, and they are experimenting with biodynamics.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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