2020 Petrolo Galatrona (750ml)

Merlot from Val d’Arno di Sopra, Tuscany, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described as “a gorgeous and sumptuous wine” by Antonio Galloni of Vinous and among the “upper echelons of Tuscan wine” according to Gambero Rosso, Petrolo’s Galatrona is a standout even among its famed Super Tuscan peers, earning its well-deserved reputation vintage over vintage as “Tuscany’s answer to Petrus” according to the Wine Spectator, this offer for three stunning vintages among the best values in the region and simply not to be missed by lovers and collectors of Italy’s best red wines.

Located on a winding hillside road in northwest of Arezzo just outside the Chianti Classico zone, the strikingly beautiful Petrolo estate spans 672 acres of woodlands, olive groves and pristine hillside vineyards, the highest point dominated by the rustic centuries’ old sandstone watchtower for which Galatrona is named. Leaving his career as a successful painter to run his family’s estate 30 years ago, vintner Luca Sanjust had a passion for the great Merlots of Pomerol, fueling the idea of producing a pure Merlot in Tuscany from the low yielding Bordeaux vines that his mother Lucia had first planted on the estate in the late 1980’s and releasing the first Galatrona in 1994 to unanimous critical acclaim. Fermented in concrete vats with indigenous yeasts, the Petrolo Galatrona is aged for 18 to 20 months in a mix of large French oak barrels and barriques about a third new, expertly balancing elegance and immense power in an opulent style reminiscent of Le Pin according to James Suckling who calls it “the Merlot bombshell from Tuscany.” Crafted under legendary consulting enologist Carlo Ferrini, the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner describes the 99 pt. 2019 Petrolo Galatrona as “soft and luscious, spreading evenly over the palate with elegance and sweeping intensity,” while the 97 pt. 2020 Petrolo Galatrona is “stunning”with all the elements “so impeccably woven together,” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, summing it up as “magnificent.” Declared “a tremendous wine by any measure” by critic Galloni, the 98 pt. 2021 Petrolo Galatrona is “totally unputdownable” according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle “with lots of potential for improvement over ageing” and a lifespan of several decades.

Describing Petrolo as “a jewel of an estate” crafting “some of the most beautiful wines in Tuscany,” Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the Petrolo Galatrona a “stunning value for the money” priced at a fraction of other highly rated Super Tuscan blends, these recent exceptional vintages already drinking beautifully and promising collectors who stash some away the opportunity to enjoy Petrolo’s elegantly complex and truly gorgeous expression of Tuscan Merlot for years to come.

98V

97JS

96WA

The 2020 Galatrona is stunning. In fact, the 2020 is one of the best vintages of the Galatrona I can remember tasting. I am especially impressed by its vertical intensity and explosive energy. All the elements are so impeccably woven together. Dark-toned fruit, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and spice build into the intense, palate-staining finish. The 2018 spent 18-20 months in French oak, about 25% new, with some larger barrels thrown into the mix. Magnificent.

98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Aug 2023)

Subtle yet intense aromas of black fruit and violets. Extremely perfumed. Crushed stones. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give a mouth-feel of velvet that goes on for minutes. Refined and fresh. Al-dente fruit. From organically grown grapes. Better in three to four years.

97 points, James Suckling (Jul 2022)

The Petrolo 2020 Galatrona is a pure expression of organic Merlot and the estate's headline wine. It was first created in 1994 when Luca Sanjust's second child, Lucia, was born. Despite the summer heat that became a challenge for winemakers in many corners of Tuscany, Galatrona shows terrific results in 2020. The vineyard is located in a cool and thickly forested position almost exactly between Florence, Arezzo and Siena. The vintage has a classic quality with a subtle bouquet that grows in intensity as the wine opens in the glass. Aromas of cherry, toasted almond and dried mint fuel a long and very elegant finish. The oak tannins are soft and sweet, and the wine boasts long-lasting flavors.

96 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Issue # 261 - Jun 2022)

Alcohol By Volume: 14.0%

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$79.98

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