“Galatrona 30 anni” Merlot Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC 2024 (BIO) · Double MAGNUM in OWC

Fattoria Petrolo | Tuscany
Petrolo s.a. s.s. | Loc. Petrolo 30 | IT 52021 Bucine

09822524 · 3 l · 156,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping9 units available
Limitation of 1 articles per customer

In 1990, Lucia Bazzocchi Sanjust planted a small plot of Merlot, intended as a blending component for the Torrione, not as a wine in its own right. Fate had other ideas: in 1994, the harvest from this plot was overlooked; the grapes were left on the vine for too long, and, unsure of their quality, the family vinified them separately. That very autumn, the young critic James Suckling was a guest in Mercatale Valdarno and was so impressed by the barrel that he urged Luca Sanjust to bottle the wine undiluted. And so, from an overlooked vineyard, the Galatrona was born, whose 2024 vintage now marks the 30th vintage since that unintended initial success.

The vineyard of the same name covers ten hectares with around 50,000 vines; it lies at an altitude of 300 metres on a south-east-facing slope and has been planted with low-yield Bordeaux clones. The clay-rich soil, interspersed with slate, marl and sandstone, retains moisture well into the Tuscan summer – an advantage that Merlot needs more here than the undemanding Sangiovese of the neighbouring plots. The vineyard has been organically farmed since 2016. Harvested by hand and sorted on the sorting table, the single-varietal Merlot undergoes spontaneous fermentation in a glazed concrete tank, with regular, gentle pumping over. Malolactic fermentation takes place spontaneously in wood, after which the wine matures for 18 to 20 months in carefully selected French barriques, a third of which are new, with continuous bâtonnage of the fine lees during the first six months.

A dark, deep garnet red, accompanied by a rich bouquet of blackberry, dark chocolate, olives and a hint of vanilla. Velvety and powerful on the palate, with ripe cherry, a subtle hint of mint and a long, warm finish that bears the hallmarks of great Bordeaux Merlots, without adopting their coolness. A wine that, thirty years after being sourced from a forgotten vineyard, has matured into one of Italy's most distinctive Merlots. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2024 Galatrona (100% Merlot) is a truly beautiful, lively wine. Notes of blue and purple fruit, lavender, mint and espresso blend together in the glass to form a harmonious whole. The 2024 vintage, which has only just been bottled, is very expressive. I cannot recall a Galatrona that had quite so much class. It is incredibly refined." Vinous

"A lively, refined red wine with aromas and flavours of blackberries, black truffle and violets. Hints of fresh herbs such as bay leaves and basil. Medium-bodied with crisp fruit and firm tannins that become creamy in the refined, structured finish. Pencil and sandalwood. Very impressive for this vintage. Made from organically grown grapes." James Suckling

"I have been particularly impressed by the most recent vintages of Galatrona, and this 2024 is no exception. It initially reveals aromas of cool red and blue berries, accompanied by a hint of petrichor (think of rain on tarmac), violets and lavender. On the palate, it is firm and lively, with juicy fruit flavours and fine, grippy tannins. A powerful, salty finish gives way to notes of dark berries and floral accents. Wonderfully refined." Decanter