2021 Galatrona, Val d’Arno di Sopra, Petrolo, Tuscany, Italy
Critics reviews
The 2021 Galatrona is a fine follow-up to the 2020. In most vintages, Galatrona is very showy right out of the gate. That is not at all the case with the 2021, a wine that is going to need a number of years to be at its finest. Black cherry, plum, mocha, leather, licorice and incense infuse the 2021 with tremendous complexity. More than anything else, I admire a feeling of vertical, explosive energy that catapults the 2021 into the stratosphere. This is a tremendous wine by any measure.
Drink 2028 - 2041
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (August 2023)
The 2021 Galatrona, 100% Merlot, is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. Quite closed to start, it requires a lot of swirling to bring out wonderfully pure notes of wild blueberries and juicy blackberries, followed by hints of plum pudding, cinnamon stick, and violets. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of bright, energetic black fruits with firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
Drink 2025 - 2045
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent (August 2023)
Always an enjoyable wine, with the dry underbrush of Tuscany providing balance and a break on the sweetness of Merlot in the warmth of Tuscany. Good acidity underlying the body of the wine, with fine tannins buoying up the ripe crushed raspberries and red cherry fruits.
10ha vineyard. Harvest first half of September, 3.56ph, natural yeast fementation, 30% new oak, with lees stirring for the first few months, long maceration, Organic. Luca Sanjust, with Carolo Ferrini as consultant winemaker.
Drink 2026 - 2038
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, JaneAnson.com (August 2023)
The aromas here are very distinct with dried flowers such as lavender and violets. Some sage as well. Black berries and black olive skin. Full-bodied yet linear and energetic with very fine tannins and fantastic length. Fresh and lively in the finish. Merlot.
Best after 2026
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (August 2023)
About this WINE
Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona
Petrolo are based in the Val d’Arno in northern Tuscany and since the 1980s have produced a range of wines from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano, but it’s with Merlot that they have found most success. This is an historic wine growing area and can trace its history back to the early 18th century, while French grape varieties have been used alongside the native Sangiovese here since the early 19th century. In the 1940s, the Petrolo estate was bought by the Bazocchi family and is now owned by Luca Sanjust, a former painter.
Petrolo’s vineyards extend across 31ha of which 26ha are in production. With an altitude between 250 and 450 meters above sea level, the vineyards grow over moderately loose-packed soil with rocky stratifications of limestone, sand, claystone and flakes of shale typical of the Chianti area.
The Galatrona vineyard extends for just 3ha and was planted in 1990. Galatrona is the first Merlot vineyard that Petrolo planted. The wine is named after the medieval tower that overlooks the Petrolo estate. It was first produced in 1994, when a late picked parcel of Merlot was kept separate and bottled as a single varietal.
IGT Tuscany
IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) Tuscany is a wine classification from Italy's Tuscany region. It is one of the official wine classifications recognized by the Italian government. IGT is a step below the highest classification, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), and above the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) level.
The IGT classification was introduced in 1992 to allow winemakers more flexibility in grape varieties and employ winemaking techniques while still ensuring a certain level of quality and geographical indication. This classification gives winemakers more freedom to experiment and innovate, deviating from the strict regulations of the DOC and DOCG classifications.
IGT Tuscany wines can be produced throughout the entire region of Tuscany, encompassing various sub-regions and terroirs within the area. This classification allows winemakers to use traditional Tuscan grape varieties, such as Sangiovese, and non-traditional grape varieties, including international ones like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and others.
The IGT Tuscany classification gives winemakers the flexibility to create wines that showcase the unique characteristics of their specific vineyards and winemaking styles. It allows for experimentation with blending different grape varieties, using innovative winemaking techniques, and exploring new regional vineyard sites.
IGT Tuscany wines can vary greatly, from traditional and terroir-driven expressions to more modern and international styles. This classification has played a significant role in developing Super Tuscan wines, often IGT designated and known for their high quality and international recognition.
Overall, IGT Tuscany provides a platform for winemakers in the region to express their creativity and produce wines that reflect their unique vision while maintaining a connection to the rich heritage and traditions of winemaking in Tuscany.
Merlot
The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.
In St.Emilion and Pomerol it withstands the moist clay rich soils far better than Cabernet grapes, and at it best produces opulently rich, plummy clarets with succulent fruitcake-like nuances. Le Pin, Pétrus and Clinet are examples of hedonistically rich Merlot wines at their very best. It also plays a key supporting role in filling out the middle palate of the Cabernet-dominated wines of the Médoc and Graves.
Merlot is now grown in virtually all wine growing countries and is particularly successful in California, Chile and Northern Italy.
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Description
Deep core of blue and black fruits. A cool mid palate that is very mineral. The wine has great balance, and it has a great weight on the palate. The tannins are fine, structured but well-integrated. There’s a hint of menthol and spice on the finish. The aromas both on the nose and palate are very sensual and there’s a beautiful balance to the wine, however it still retains good power and concentration.
Drink 2027 - 2045
Tara Field, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (August 2023)
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