2001 Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso
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Tasting notes
The 2001 Paleo comes together with stunning intensity and balance. If you have a bottle, this wine is absolutely at its prime. This pure expression of Cabernet Franc ushers forth a steady release of black fruit, crushed granite, liquid smoke, licorice, cola and grilled herb. This is one of the first and most important expressions of the French grape made in Italy. Today, some 15 years after the release of this wine, Cabernet Franc is among the hottest varieties on coastal Tuscany--and it's all thanks to the success of Paleo. There is a profound level of complexity and elegance here that is contrasted perfectly against the wine's rich texture and opulence. The wine shows equal parts breed and brawn. Le Macchiole has created the precedent for world class Cabernet Franc from Tuscany.
Critic scores
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2001 Paleo Rosso is a true stand out. Huge, powerful and intense to the core, the 2011 boasts stunning depth. At times, the 2001 tastes like it was made yesterday. A brutal spring frost lowered yields dramatically, resulting in one of the biggest, most concentrated Paleo Rossos ever made. The rest of the growing season was quite moderate, with cool nights that allowed for an even maturation of the grapes. The 2001 is the first Paleo Rosso to be made with 100% Cabernet Franc, and it remains one of the best editions for this pioneering Tuscan red. What a wine. The 2001 spent 16 months in French oak barrels, divided evenly between standard 225-liter barrels and smaller, half-size 112-liter barrels.
First vintage with 100% Cabernet Franc. Big and burly, without the alluring perfume of the 2004. Ripe and sweet – then acidity – but those two components are still a little separate. They used 600 bottles of this as samples to try to build the reputation of Cabernet Franc in Italy where it was initially regarded as inferior. Hint of mint. (JR)
The 2001 Paleo (100% Cabernet Franc) was simply off the charts. It opened with gorgeous, well-delineated aromatics followed by heady notes of dark fruit, menthol, spices, chocolate, minerals and toasted oak. Warm, ample and vibrant on the palate, is showed tremendous length and plenty of Cabernet Franc character with more nuance and finer tannins than the 2000.