Galatrona 2019 Val d'Arno di Sopra DOC - Petrolo

Galatrona 2019 – Petrolo

Galatrona is the pure Merlot of Petrolo, the Bazzocchi-Sanjust family estate at Mercatale Valdarno, now run by Luca Sanjust. The name is that of the medieval Galatrona tower that overlooks these hills between Chianti and the Valdarno. The first vintage was 1994, and over thirty years it has become one of Italy's most acclaimed Merlots and the flagship of the Val d'Arno di Sopra DOC.

The vineyard, about ten hectares at around 300 metres, was planted between the late 1980s and mid-1990s with low-vigour Bordeaux clones, on clay rich in galestro, alberese and sandstone that holds water through dry summers. Organic farming, spontaneous fermentation in cement and 18-20 months in barriques, one third new.

2019, a balanced year, produced a broad, creamy Galatrona: ripe red and black fruit, pepper, cinnamon, liquorice, coffee and tobacco, with soft tannins and a long finish. A Merlot that fully deserves its place alongside Masseto and Redigaffi. With fillet steak, duck or game.

At a glance: Merlot 100% · 15% ABV · 0.75 l · Petrolo, Val d'Arno di Sopra