Vintage	J. Suckling	Vinous Galloni	Wine Advocate	Wine Spectator	Decanter	Falstaff	Wine Enthusiast	Gambero Rosso	AIS Duemila Vini	Espresso	Veronelli	L. Maroni	Doctor Wine
2016	97-98	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
2015	99 Second best wine of the World	–	96	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	95
2014	95	–	–	90	–	–	–	***	–	–	93	93	–
2013	98	91	97+	–	–	–	–	***	–	–	–	–	–
2012	98	93	94	93	Bronze	97	–	***	*****	–	93	–	–
2011	99	93-95	94	94	Commended	97	–	***	*****	–	93	–	95
2010	95	92	93	94	Bronze	92	–	***	*****	16/20	92	91	–
2009	97	94	98	90	Silver	97- top 10 merlot of the world	–	***	*****	15,5/20	–	90	–
2008	95	93+	93+	95	–	95	97	***	*****	17/20	–	90	–
2007	98	95+	95+	98	–	96	98	***	*****	16/20	–	90	–
2006	96	95	95	96	Bronze	–	95	***	*****	–	93	91	–
2005	93	93	93	93	Sliver	–	94	***	*****	16.5/20	92	90	–
2004	97	96	97	97	Commended	92	97	***	*****	18/20	94	90	–
2003	96	91	91	96	–	96	90	**	*****	15/20	92	90	–
2002	90	–	91	90	–	–	–	**	*****	–	91	90	–
2001	92	–	94	96	–	93	–	***	*****	17.5/20	92	92	–

Galatrona

This is our cru of merlot. Wine of great structure on the palate and widly aromatic on the nose. Galatrona is Petrolo’s flagship, the most awarded wine of the estate.

“a great wine, beyond the grape varietal it’s made from, must talk of the piece of land it came from. Beyond being mainly good, it has to be a classic in its own way” Luca.

Denomination
Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC – Vigna Galatrona, merlot – Estate produced and bottled

First year of production
1994

Grape variety
Merlot 100%

Production
max. 20.000 bottles

Production

Vinegrowing

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 malo-lactic 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.

Stile

Intense elegant wine with great structure and complexity, lovely balance between acidity, fruit and tannins. A great wine, beyond the grape varietal it’s made from, must talk of the piece of land it came from. Beyond being mainly good, it has to be a classic in its own way.

Vineyards

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.

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Riconoscimenti

Galatrona