Le Macchiole
Paleo Bianco 2020
Toscana IGT
First produced in 1991 in tiny quantities for a local restaurant, Paleo Bianco today is a silky, mineral-driven blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with loads of savory Mediterranean character.
VINEYARD
The fruit for Paleo Bianco 2020 was sourced from the Casa Nuova vineyard, which was planted in 2009 and the Ulivino vineyard, which was planted in 2016. Yields are notably restricted. The training system is single guyot. The 2020 vintage is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Sauvignon Blanc.
WINEMAKING
Paleo Bianco is fermented in oak barrels of varying sizes for 10 days (10% in 225L, 50% in 300L and 30% in 500L), followed by 8 months of aging (20% in new oak barriques and tonneaux, 70% in second, third and fourth passage barriques and tonneaux, 20% steel tank.)
VINTAGE
The year started out with a mild winter followed by a brief period of cold weather and then a rapid rise in temperatures, leading to bud-break in the majority of the vineyards. Spring saw two frosts during the month of April, and then regular precipitation followed until the middle of June, leading to abundant vegetative development. Temperatures were not excessively hot in summer, but it was dry and windy up until harvest, which was characterized by significant temperature variations between day and night and hot days with no rain, except for the last ten days of harvest when the first autumn rains began.
TASTING NOTE
Deep aromas of lime and white flowers and a delicate spicy note reminiscent of almond and hazelnut.
Color
White
Grape Varieties
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation
Toscana IGT
Alcohol
13%
Suggested Retail Price
$100
Reviews
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
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.
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.
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.
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.
