Galatrona 2018

A 100% Merlot cuvée that totally delivers. This is seductive with tons of finesse and layers of liquorice and olive paste with grip and smoked swirls of grilled oak. I love the confidence and complexity of this wine. 2018 had less extreme temperatures than 2017 in this corner of Chianti, and it gives a lilting freshness while still guarding the wild fig and rosemary aromatics that give a sense of place. Fermentation is in small barrels and amphoras, with manual punching down of the skins. Overall, a gorgeous wine and an extremely easy bottle to recommend. Organic certified since 2016. Owner and winemaker Luca Sanjust worked with the late Denis Durantou of L'Eglise Clinet during the early years of Petrolo, and certainly you can see some of the deft playing with the possibilities of Merlot that became the signature of both men.

Score: 97

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2023-2043 27 August 2020

Tasted from barrel, the gorgeous 2018 Galatrona promises much beauty to come. Luca Sanjust says that this is the most Pomerol of the Merlot-based Galatronas he has created, and indeed, the wine boasts impeccable balance and depth. You get some of the balsam herb notes that I found in the 2017 vintage, although those are greatly downplayed here, giving more room to cherry and blackberry fruit instead. The 2018 vintage offers energy, freshness and tonic fruit. Underground water reserves were plentiful in 2018, and the fruit ripened slowly and harmoniously, creating textural richness and succulence. Average production at Petrolo is 30,000 to 35,000 bottles, but only 17,000 bottles were released in the challenging 2017 vintage. Petrolo proprietor Luca Sanjust calls 2017 a "demoralizing vintage" for all, but hard work and perseverance has paid off handsomely. His wines from the 2017 vintage show great quality, if alas, extremely low quantities.

Score: 95 - 97

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2021-2043 30 August 2019