The 2010 Paleo Bianco (Sauvignon, Chardonnay) is quite pretty in this vintage. Rich layers of fruit intermingled with varietal Sauvignon aromatics are woven together nicely in this gorgeous Tuscan white. The Bianco is a work in progress. Consulting oenologist Luca D’Attoma has moved up the harvest and introduced barrels from Stephane Chassin, a cooper whose barrels are increasingly seen in top Burgundy cellars. The 2010 is gorgeous, but I will not be surprised if future vintages are even stronger. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014.
I tasted Le Macchiole’s 2009s several times, all with the same results. The 2009 vintage was a difficult one in Maremma because of the hot summer. All of Le Macchiole’s top wines are single-varietal bottlings, which means there is not much that can be done in the cellar to adjust blends, something so many other wineries are able to do in challenging vintages. Overall, the 2009s don’t reach the heights that are customary at Le Macchiole.
Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799