2011 - Paleo Rosso, Le Macchiole, Bolgheri

The 2011 Le Macchiole Paleo seems a little burly and less forthcoming at this tasting. It is more "scrontoso", or grumpy, says owner Cinzia Merli. The color is inky black with a youthful rim. The nose is very tightly controlled with background spice, cedar, and intense blackberry notes. This is a wine that needs time to open-up and might benefit from a brief period of decanting. On the palate the fruit feels a bit hotter and darker in style but there are lots of sweet, ripe, blackberry jam and dark licorice flavors too with slightly chunky tannins. The tannins are a bit less ripe and more robust yet amply covered by a powerful, fleshy texture. You can feel that this was a hot vintage where the tannins struggled to achieve ripeness as there is a slight dryness on the finish, but all of this is enveloped in a rich, velvety texture. According to the winemaker, Luca Rettondini, "In 2011 the grape seeds and some tannins were not so perfect. It was the vintage where we decided to change something to make a difference." The 2011 is powerful and young looking but is not yet harmonious. I am not sure it ever will be, but it is a vivid example of 2011 nevertheless.

Deep ruby. Enticing aromas of raspberry syrup, cassis, aromatic herbs and quinine. Fresh and pure in the mouth, with rich flavors of red berries and cherry complicated by cocoa and coffee and lifted by a pungent floral element. Very cabernet franc! This very serious, brooding wine is still youthfully shut down but is a potentially great Paleo.