Le Macchiole

Paleo Bianco 2017

Toscana IGT

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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 2016 was sourced from the Casa Nuova vineyard, which was planted in 2009. Yields are notably restricted. The training system is single guyot.

WINEMAKING

Paleo Bianco is fermented in oak barrels of varying sizes for 10 days (20% in 225L, 50% in 300L and 30% in 500L), followed by 7 months of aging (20% in new oak barriques and tonneaux, and 80% in second, third and fourth passage barriques and tonneaux.

VINTAGE

2017 set record high temperatures in Bolgheri and throughout Italy. At Le Macchiole, the white grapes were harvested ahead of schedule, in order to get grapes with good acidity and excellent sugar content. The wine was not affected by the warm weather throughout the year and
preserves its citric note, which gives freshness and complexity.

TASTING NOTE

Deep aromas of lime and white flowers and a delicate spicy note reminiscent of almond and hazelnut.
-Tasting note from winery

Color

White

Grape Varieties

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation

Toscana IGT

Alcohol

14.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$80.00

Reviews

Wine Advocate - May 17, 2019 "A blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Paleo Bianco is not quite as fleshed out as the 2016, as this wine came out a bit saltier and finer in texture. The citric component of the Sauvignon was very much intact this year, but overall, the earlier harvest (on August 14th) in this hot vintage resulted in a drier quality of fruit. The last rains came in May, and many summer days felt like an open oven on the Tuscan Coast. This Paleo Bianco has strong notes of stone along with that famous citrus power. The team at Le Macchiole did tons of work in the vineyard to counter the challenges of the heat."  

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Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

Scrio

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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

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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

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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

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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.