Rich, impenetrable ruby-violet colour with a black core. Opens with delicate smoky notes, some cardamom and bay leaf. Lots of dark berry fruit, blueberry and mulberry, exciting. Juicy, vivid fruit, stretches powerfully over the tongue, juicy and at the same time very substantial tannins, full drive on the finish.
99 points, Falstaff (Oct 2025)
The aromas of black currants, graphite, lavender and violets are gorgeous. Black olives and walnuts, too. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins, a racy texture and small black berry-like flavors. Iron undertones as well as dark chocolate, dried sage and rosemary. Vertical nature to this. One for the cellar. Pure merlot. From organically grown grapes. Best after 2030.
98 points, James Suckling (Jul 2025)
The Petrolo 2023 Val d'Arno di Sopra Galatrona stands among Italy’s benchmark expressions of Merlot. This organic wine comes from nine hectares of gently sloping vineyards with medium-rich soils marked by rocks and clay, lending both depth and natural balance. Gorgeously rich, velvety and intense, Galatrona delivers compelling concentration without ever sacrificing elegance or freshness. The underdog 2023 vintage presented notable challenges due to humidity and heat, but meticulous work in the vineyard and at the sorting table proved decisive, especially for an early-ripening variety like Merlot. Fermented in cement and aged in barrique and tonneaux for 18 months, the wine shows harmony between power and finesse. Production is 25,000 bottles.
96 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Feb 2026)
Top Quality Store
