Le Macchiole

Paleo Bianco 2023

Toscana IGT

Trade Tools

Le Macchiole Paleo Bianco, first produced in 1991 in small quantities for a local restaurant, is a sophisticated blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Initially dominated by Sauvignon Blanc, recent vintages have seen a shift towards more Chardonnay. This high-end Italian white wine is silky and mineral-driven, fermented in oak barrels of varying sizes, and aged for six months. The result is a vibrant, fresh wine with distinct Mediterranean character, offering a perfect balance of richness and brightness that reflects the terroir of Bolgheri.

VINEYARD

The natural fertility of the soil is mitigated by high-density plantings and weak rootstock, leading to a natural production of only 800-1000 grams of grapes per plant. All phases of work in the vineyard, from the pruning to harvest, are carried out by hand – a great deal of work, as each hectare of vineyard requires 850 hours of work every year.

WINEMAKING

10 days in oak barrels

VINTAGE

The 2023 Bolgheri growing season began with mild winter weather and early budbreak, followed by spring rains and a hot, dry July. Frequent rains during flowering and fruit set caused lower yields, but grapes matured with perfect balance, achieving good phenolic maturity and moderate sugar levels. Though high humidity required extra effort to prevent mildew, the summer's cooler conditions and timely rains in August allowed for ideal ripening, resulting in healthy, well-formed clusters and a generally successful harvest.

FOOD PAIRING

grilled  white fish. Roast chicken. Creamy risottos with seafood

Color

White

Blend %

70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chardonnay

Appellation

Toscana IGT

Alcohol

13.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$154.99

Reviews

94

Wine Advocate - February 5, 2026 "A blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, the Le Macchiole 2023 Paleo Bianco is fermented in a mix of oak and stainless steel and aged for eight months in barrique and tonneaux, with a small proportion of new oak and mostly neutral vessels. The wine opens with a spicy edge marked by star fruit and nectarine, then quickly fleshes out to orchard fruit and poached apple. Drawing on the estate’s coastal Bolgheri vineyards, it shows notable volume and depth with beautiful continuity and length through the finish."

93

James Suckling - July 23, 2025 "This wine shows aromas of flowers, broom flowers, linden trees, tangerines, lemons and wild fennel. Light-bodied, it has refreshing acidity and a silky texture with more substance in the long finish that shows flavors of almonds, brine and black olives."

Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

Scrio

Toscana IGT

Scrio was born in 1994, out of Eugenio Campolmi's wish to produce a wine which would best express his vision of Syrah, his favorite grape variety. As all Le Macchiole wines, Scrio has an original personality and stands apart from Syrah grown in France or anywhere else - it is an extraordinarily compelling meld of deep and velvety Mediterranean fruit with cool climate aromatics and detail. Given the extremely limited production, Scrio is decidedly a hidden gem.

Bolgheri Rosso

Bolgheri

Bolgheri Rosso is a refined, irresistible blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, serving as an introduction to the estate. The wine is, frankly, almost too good at the price. All the intensive artisanal work that Le Macchiole carries out in its vineyards and cellars benefits this wine, and despite more availability than its Paleo Rosso, Messorio and Scrio siblings, it sells out nearly as quickly.

Paleo Rosso

Toscana IGT

Paleo Rosso has been called Italy's landmark expression of Cabernet Franc. This grape variety is growing internationally as a distinct bottling, but Bolgheri has proven to be the single best place in the world to do so. The Mediterranean climate and surroundings result in a wine of extraordinarily expressive, sensual, and textural fruits and savory spices.

Messorio

Toscana IGT

Messorio, a Merlot monovarietal, is the winery’s crown jewel. Its initial vintage was 1994, and since then it has received extraordinary acclaim, including a 100-point score from the Wine Spectator for the 2004 vintage. The name Messorio refers to the ancient Tuscan practice of wheat harvesting, the most important time of the year in the Bolgheri countryside - once it referred to wheat; these days, it is all about grape harvesting.