Dark red fruit, freshly cut flowers, minerals, spices and sweet herbs are some of the notes that emerge from the estate’s 2008 Paleo Rosso. The Paleo impresses for its vibrant minerality and exceptionally long, focused finish. The 2008 isn’t a huge, opulent Paleo, rather it is a wine of more classic proportions built on harmony, of which there is no shortage here. Crushed flowers and sweet spices from the oak are sublime in the empty glass. Paleo Rosso is 100% Cabernet Franc that spent 14 months in French oak, 70% new barriques and 30% 1 year-old 112 liter barrels previously used for Messorio. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. These may very well be the finest wines I have ever tasted from Le Macchiole. There is no question these are the best wines the estate has ever produced relative to the overall quality and potential of the vintage. Over the years this cutting edge estate has been at the forefront of many developments in Maremma and Italy including working with low yields, densely planted vineyards and using small 112 liter barrels for the flagship Merlot, Messorio. Proprietor Cinzia Merli and long-time oenologist Luca d’Attoma have continued to search for ways to improve. These 2008s show the direction of the future. New oak levels are down, the quality of coopers is up and the estate is moving towards larger 500-liter barrels on some of the wines. Le Macchiole has always produced stunning fruit. Now that much of the makeup is beginning to come off the wines it is obvious the estate’s potential is limitless. Nowhere is a return to a more classic style in Italy more evident than at Le Macchiole. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799