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Some wines aim for greatness; this one delivers it. The 2021 Petrolo Galatrona is not just another Merlot; it's a true Italian masterpiece. Crafted with passion in Tuscany's enchanting Val d'Arno di Sopra between Castelnuovo Berardegna and Gaiole in Chianti, this wine is as much a tribute to the land as it is a triumph of winemaking. Think of it as Italy’s answer to Pétrus – yes, we said it.

Here’s the story: The vineyard, named after a medieval tower that still watches over it, is a dreamy 10 hectares of clay, shale, marl, and sandstone in the center of Tuscany. These soils aren’t just for show; they’re the secret to Galatrona’s incredible elegance and structure. Add to that a south-eastern exposure at 300 meters above sea level, and you’ve got a microclimate that Merlot vines adore.

But it doesn’t stop at dirt and sunshine. The Bazzocchi family, who have owned Petrolo since the 1940s, and Dr. Luca Sanjust (a Doctor of Renaissance Venetian Art) a painter-turned-winemaker have poured decades of heart and soul into creating a wine that doesn’t just impress—it enchants. Organic-certified since 2016, the estate has embraced sustainable practices that bring out the best in every grape, with no synthetic shortcuts. It’s Tuscan winemaking at its finest.

Think lush dark fruits, velvety tannins, and an elegance that could rival a Tuscan sunset. The wine undergoes natural fermentation in cement vats—because when your terroir is this perfect, why interfere? Then, it’s aged for 18–20 months in French oak barriques (one-third new), with batonnage to bring out even more complexity and depth. The result? A wine that doesn’t just stand out; it shines.

But let’s get real for a moment. Galatrona isn’t just a bottle of wine; it’s a conversation starter, the highlight of any dinner, and the kind of bottle your friends will talk about long after the last sip. It’s the wine you open when you want people to sit up, wide-eyed, and ask, "What is this, and where can I get it?"

Luca Sanjust sums it up best: “A great wine, beyond the grape varietal it’s made from, must talk the language of the piece of land it came from. Beyond being mainly good, it has to be a classic in its own way, it must hold the stories of the people who made it, thought it and who have lived and worked for generations over that parcel of land“.

The 2021 vintage was absolutely legendary—Wine Spectator exploded with a 99-point score and declared: "This might be the best vintage in Tuscany's modern era."

100% Merlot with a rich bouquet of black cherry, blackcurrant, and floral touches of lavender and violets, alongside hints of sage and black olive skin. The palate is full-bodied yet linear and energetic, with silky tannins and a crisp acidity that adds a thrilling freshness to the wine. Flavors of plum, mocha, and leather unfold, complemented by a subtle spice and cedarwood. With its chalky tannins and incredible length, this wine is intense, yet remains balanced and harmonious, making it enjoyable now but primed for aging and improvement through 2026 and beyond.

Dark ruby red colour. Finely spicy on the nose, blackcurrants, fine earthy notes, plus a hint of dried rose petal, some cigar box. On the palate a fruity texture, entwined with hearty, juicy tannin, elegant flow, comes back long and juicy in the finish on fine spicy tones, still a bit young. ~100 Falstaff

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. ~98 James Suckling

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. ~98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The 2021 Val d'Arno di Sopra Galatrona shows extremely focused aromas, but very generous ones all the while, with soft mint, cherry and stracciatella over a full-bodied texture with soft layers of spice and cedarwood. The wine boasts an elegantly chalky quality to the tannins, but the mouthfeel is so generous, everything irons out beautifully over the palate. It ages in a combination of new and used barrique. Annual production is about 30,000 bottles. ~97+ Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

The nose showcases a vast world of savory aromas, from sanguine to metallic to woody to earthy, with cranberries, currants and dark berries providing sweet contrast. A lively palate runs with the warmth of earth and just-ripened fruit, alongside austere tannins that promise ageworthiness. An absolutely acrobatic feat in Merlot. ~97 Wine Enthusiast

Vivid purple in the glass, gorgeous black cherry and blackcurrant aromas with touches of florality - this 100% Merlot smells wonderfully scented and inviting. Smooth, ample, really quite seductive on the palate, sensual almost in the silky but gripping tannins, beautifully ripe blackcurrant and cherry fruit and crunchy, crisp acidity that is not too sharp or too obvious but lifts the palate and gives a thrill and wonderful freshness to the overall expression. Beautifully presented, harmonious, balanced and totally enjoyable from the first to last sip. A gorgeous wine, intense yet energetic, full of flavour and textural nuance. Totally unputdownable, although with lots of potential for improvement over ageing. The wine spent 18 months in French oak tonneaux and barriques, 30% new. 3.56pH. ~97 Decanter

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