Petrolo
Galatrona 2019
Toscana IGT
Galatrona is Petrolo’s most acclaimed wine, a Merlot cru made exclusively with grapes from the Galatrona-Feriale vineyard planted in various phases during the 1990s with low vigor Bordeaux clones. The unique microclimate allows the concentration of the noble components of the grapes that are fundamental for the great structure, elegance, balance, and persistence that has made Galatrona one of Italy’s most coveted wines.
VINEYARD
The vines are planted on clay-rich loam, with shale, marl and sandstone. Clay helps to retain the moisture in the soil, which is particularly useful during the hot, dry Tuscan summers. The vineyard lies approximately 1000 feet above sea level and has a south-eastern exposure. The vineyard spans 25 acres, with almost 50,000 plants grown on spurred cordon trellising. The yield per plant is notably restricted (max 2.5 lbs per vine plant), with the Petrolo estate as a whole producing 65,000 bottles (5,000 cases) from 140,000 plants – less than half a bottle per plant. The strict pruning permits a complete grape maturation to take place. The limited yields permits the grapeskins to achieve highly concentrated levels of anthocyanins and tannin, already sweetened due to the polymerization of the plant.
WINEMAKING
Skin maceration lasts more than 20 days. Pump-overs are done manually with considerable care and very frequently to allow the complete extraction from the skins. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barriques, usually starting quickly and with regular development. After the malolactic fermentation the wine ages in new and almost new French oak barriques for approximately 18 months. During this period the wine is left for the first 8 months on the fine lees. After bottling, the wine begins its usual maturation period of about 6 months before release.
VINTAGE
After a fairly regular winter, the initially mild spring brought abundant rains in May and rather cold temperatures for the period. At the beginning of summer, with the heat wave in June, the development of the vines was realigned to its usual course. The consistent thunderstorms in July did not damage the vines and on the contrary the additional rain allowed a balanced growth of the bunches. The grapes in August benefited from a warm and bright period that guaranteed perfect ripeness and excellent health conditions.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Merlot
Appellation
Toscana IGT
Farming
Organic
Alcohol
14.5%
Suggested Retail Price
$130.00
Reviews
"Pure and poised"
James Suckling - November 12, 2021 "Blackberries and black cherries with lavender and violets on the nose. Full-bodied with velvety, chewy tannins, yet the fruit is very intense with vibrancy and energy. Muscular, yet agile. Pure and poised. A unique definition of merlot in Tuscany"
"Plum and blackberry fruit"
Wine Spectator - January 19, 2022 "A concentrated red, with an earthy, savory side contrasting its plum and blackberry fruit. A broad swath of tannins makes its presence felt on the finish, yet there's a beam of acidity keeping this focused and refined." B.S
"Potent, pure Merlot"
Vinous - July 27, 2022 "The 2019 Galatrona is a gorgeous wine. It possesses striking depth, but with the freshness and delineation that is a signature these days. Blue/purple fruit, mocha, incense, espresso and lavender build in this potent, pure Merlot from the hills. The 2019 is one of the better recent vintages I can remember tasting." A.G
Reviews
More on Petrolo Galatrona 2019
Petrolo Galatrona Named ‘Hot Wine’ by WS Insider Weekly
November 11, 2021 - Wine Spectator awards Petrolo Galtrona 2019, the 25th vintage of this hallmark red, 96 points; adding it to their weekly "Hot Wine" list as a wine worth getting your hands…
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Bòggina B
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Torrione
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Torrione is made primarily from Sangiovese grapes, both those that come from historic vines of the 1970s and ones more recently planted with high density. The yield per plant is notably restricted, allowing a concentration of all the noble components of the grape, fundamental for the full-bodied character of this wine. The fruit intensity and its black character make it a comparison to Brunello at several times the price.
Bòggina A
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Every year, Petrolo selects a small lot of Bòggina, a wine made purely from their best Sangiovese grapes, to ferment in amphorae. The choice of amphorae has a historical dimension to get closer to Tuscany's cultural roots, as Terracotta in Tuscany has a history back to the early Etruscan times. The remains of amphorae and other Etruscan relics can be found throughout the Petrolo property, an area that has been settled for thousands of years.
Bòggina C
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Boggina is bottled from the best barrels of Sangiovese produced each year from the Boggina hill, planted in the 1950’s by Luca’s grandfather. Bòggina is the oldest vineyard on the Petrolo estate, and the source of Petrolo’s most prized Sangiovese vines.