The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.
News
Terrific aromas of violets, roses and raspberries with hints of strawberries and brown sugar. Full body. Phenomenal layers of focused fruit and polished velvety tannins. This is the Galatrona that everyone has been waiting for. It's the vintage that shows depth and power yet wonderful finesse and focus. Best ever. Drink from 2023 but already electrifying."
99 Points James Suckling
"The 2015 Galatrona is another gem from this estate. Made from a single vineyard and 100% Merlot brought up in one-third new French oak, its vibrant purple color is followed by a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, black cherries, leafy herbs, crushed rock, and violets. Incredibly pure and finesse-driven on the palate, yet still concentrated and powerful, its building tannin and integrated acidity all point to a very long life."
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"Galatrona is one of the best Merlots made in Italy (definitely in the top five) and this vintage keeps the banner flying high. The 2015 Galatrona is luscious, soft, soothing and ever-so intense. The wine wraps thickly over the senses and the palate with lasting flavors of dark fruit and spice. Specifically, you get black cherry, pressed blackberry, toasted spice and bitter chocolate or fragrant espresso. The wine shows depth and length, width and soaring heights. It's young now, so put the bottle at the back of your cellar."
96 Points Wine Advocate
"Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry and plum are tinged by tar and spice in this lush red. Accents of wild herbs and pine are enhanced by the lively acidity. Shows fine balance and length, with a firm grip. Merlot. Drink now through 2024."
92 Points Wine Spectator
"Ample and voluptuous on the palate, the 2015 Galatrona (Merlot) is terrific. Dark plum, licorice, leather, tobacco, smoke and savory herbs fill out the wine’s frame effortlessly. At times quite powerful while in other moments more restrained, the 2015 offers a super-appealing push and pull of aromas, flavors and textures that is compelling. The 2015 needs time to be at its best, but it is a terrific example of the current style at Petrolo captured at its very best."
95 Points Vinous Media
"Subtle black spice notes weave through flavors of ripe blackberry and plum in this lush, velvety merlot. The wine aged in barriques (one-third new) for 18 months, and shows an elegance and polish. The fine, densely packed tannins rein in the fruit, requiring several hours of air before layers of tobacco and dark chocolate begin to emerge."
94 Points Wine & Spirits Magazine
Wine Description
The Story
The wine Galatrona is a cru of Merlot made from the vineyard Galatrona planted in various phases during the 1990’s with low vigor bordeaux clones in the locality known as Feriale. The vineyard extends for 10 Ha with almost 50.000 plants grown on spurred cordon trellising.
Loam rich in clay, with shale, marl and sandstones.
Altitude 300 m asl. South-eastern exposure. Placed on the south-eastern borders of the Chianti Hills, in the DOC Val d’Arno di Sopra.
Clay helps keeping moisture in the soil, of which merlot has higher needs in the hot, dry, Tuscan summers. The combination of stones, shale and clay is among the elements that allow Galatrona to produce an elegant and full bodied wine even in what are considered minor vintages.
Since 2004 we have been abandoning traditional farming methods practising Natural/Sustainable farming: dry farming, no tillage, total grassing with mulch management, no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Official Organic Certification was obtained from harvest 2016 (Petrolo olive oil is organic since the 90’s). To achieve natural balance in the vineyard, plant management is made by hand with targeted intervention. Heavier pruning and grape thinning is almost absent in the mature vineyards already balanced. Today extra management is only needed in the more challenging years only.
Vinification: Manual harvest in crates and further grape selection with sorting table. Natural vinification with native yeasts in cement vats. Manual soft and frequent pumping over. Skin maceration over 15 days.
Aging: Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in wood.
Maturation: In Frech oak barrique, a third new, for about 18 months. Constant batonnage of the fine lees for the first 6 months.
Wine Information
THE VINEYARD: The wine Galatrona is a cru of Merlot made from the vineyard Galatrona planted in various phases during the 1990’s with low vigor bordeaux clones in the locality known as Feriale. The vineyard extends for 10 Ha with almost 50.000 plants grown on spurred cordon trellising.
THE SOIL: Loam rich in clay, with shale, marl and sandstones. Altitude 300 m asl. South-eastern exposure. Placed on the south-eastern borders of the Chianti Hills, in the DOC Val d’Arno di Sopra. Clay helps keeping moisture in the soil, of which merlot has higher needs in the hot, dry, Tuscan summers. The combination of stones, shale and clay is among the elements that allow Galatrona to produce an elegant and full bodied wine even in what are considered minor vintages.
