"A new reference point for Merlot in Italy." - James Sucking, 100 points

The Galatrona 2022 has just received this perfect 100-point review from James Suckling...

James Suckling: "The floral aromas are spellbinding, with aromas of violets, lilacs, orange peel, raspberries, rose petals, and some oranges. It’s medium- to full-bodied with crunchy and open-grain tannins that are creamy and caressing. It’s endless in the finish. Crunchy and energetic. A wine that is thoughtful and gives you such great pleasure. Such purity. It’s like eating perfectly ripened grape must. Pure Merlot. Drinkable in many ways, but will come together beautifully. A new reference point for Merlot in Italy. Drink after 2028." 100 points

..... but in the interests of balance, we feel obliged to also include this damning 97-point review...

Decanter: "The very promising 2022 has great freshness on the nose, where wild berries vie with savoury mineral notes and hints of aromatic herbs. The impact of the fruit on the palate is intense but in perfect balance, the tannins are super-fine, and the finish infinitely long and impeccably precise. Current owner Luca Sanjust inherited Petrolo from his mother Lucia who, with the early guidance of legendary master taster Giulio Gambelli, established a production of outstanding quality in what was at the time the little known backwater of the Colli Aretini. Merlot has been a feature of the production since the 1980s, and on the clay soils of the Galatrona vineyard on the cooler left bank of the Arno river, the variety gives wines with bright, succulent fruit and extreme elegance in a style which sets them apart from the Merlots of the Tuscan coast. Pure class." 97 points