Le Macchiole Paleo 2007 has recently been praised as a shining example of the Super Tuscans by Alan Kingsbury of FoodEpedia, who believes  that simple formulas have made this exceptional Tuscan wine.

Super Tuscans are an unofficial category of Tuscan wine, but can be considered to be similar to that of Premier Cru in France. The classification goes back to the early days of Chianti wine, when producers looked to shed the ‘Chianti’ label in search of something more unique and personal.

Rather than relying on the market-recognised Chianti label, producers looked to market wines from the Tuscan region based on individual merit. By the 1980s, many had shun Chianti in favour of Sangiovese, bringing the wines more into line with Bordeaux, with a blend of grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Le Macchiole Paleo 2007 is 100 per cent Cabernet Franc, which makes it a surprise inclusion on the list of Super Tuscans. But there is something in its simplicity that has made it a rather unique produce. Mr Kingsbury said: “If the formula for making good wine is simple: Soil + Grapes + People; you will occasionally find that, during life’s hopeful journey through mediocrity in search of excellence, true greatness will unexpectedly appear.” This was the case for ’07 Le Macchiole Paleo.

Le Macchiole maintain the perfect soil for growing Cabernet Franc, and Paleo is a shining example of an elite group of Italian wines that have in recent decades become known as ‘Super Tuscans’, Mr Kingsbury explains.

The ’07 wine has great aromas of liquorice, tar, cooked blackberry and the ripest black cherries on the nose. The palate is intense and expressive, and combines beautifully the soft and  toast vanilla tannins.

In terms of food matching, the wine is perfectly suited to the most classic of Italian dishes. A good leg of lamb with plenty of herbs and spices will complement the wine perfectly.