Fattoria Petrolo
Galatrona Merlot
Tuscany, Italy
Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Showing red and black fruits with wood, earth, spices, tobacco and chocolate notes.
This 10 year old Merlot is very dry on the palate with nice complexity. The nose is absolutely fantastic and complex. Tangy, rich and interesting.
Will not get better from this point on, so drink up.
A good food wine that paired nicely with meats and cheeses.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120.
Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Showing red and black fruits with wood, earth, spices, tobacco and chocolate notes.
This 10 year old Merlot is very dry on the palate with nice complexity. The nose is absolutely fantastic and complex. Tangy, rich and interesting.
Will not get better from this point on, so drink up.
A good food wine that paired nicely with meats and cheeses.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish/brick rim.
Beautiful nose of black currants, cooked plums, light cedar, black tea, Mediterranean spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, light earth, cola and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, black pepper and black tea.
Medium minus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very tasty Merlot from Tuscany. Rich, extracted and still showing lots of fruit notes.
This 10 year old Merlot needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but drinking nicely now. Complex and nicely balanced.
The nose is just gorgeous, but the palate doesn’t quite match its complexity.
Needed 2 hours in the decanter to open up and show the beautiful nose.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 95 points.
This Super Tuscan is a little disappointing, as it received great reviews, but I had it blind, so it is what it is.
Good as a sipping wine and better with food.
100% Merlot grapes were aged in (33% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish/brick rim.
Beautiful nose of black currants, cooked plums, light cedar, black tea, Mediterranean spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, light earth, cola and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, black pepper and black tea.
Medium minus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very tasty Merlot from Tuscany. Rich, extracted and still showing lots of fruit notes.
This 10 year old Merlot needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but drinking nicely now. Complex and nicely balanced.
The nose is just gorgeous, but the palate doesn’t quite match its complexity.
Needed 2 hours in the decanter to open up and show the beautiful nose.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 95 points.
This Super Tuscan is a little disappointing, as it received great reviews, but I had it blind, so it is what it is.
Good as a sipping wine and better with food.
100% Merlot grapes were aged in (33% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120.
Back when I was a University student 50 years ago I used to smoke a pipe and one of my favourite tobaccos was McBarens Plum Cake pipe tobacco. Tuscan Merlot often reminds me of that. I must admit I often prefer these wines when they are younger with more plummy, black cherry fruit and less earthy savouriness. The 2007 I had some time ago was better. Have the last bottle in the next couple of years. Postscript: 99 points from James Suckling.
Back when I was a University student 50 years ago I used to smoke a pipe and one of my favourite tobaccos was McBarens Plum Cake pipe tobacco. Tuscan Merlot often reminds me of that. I must admit I often prefer these wines when they are younger with more plummy, black cherry fruit and less earthy savouriness. The 2007 I had some time ago was better. Have the last bottle in the next couple of years. Postscript: 99 points from James Suckling.
Jan 24th, 2025Wonderful perfume, wonderful palate, wonderful wine! Aromatic red and black fruits, spicy, plummy, with a leather note and a menthol, slightly tarry note. Finishes with fine dry, sandy tannins. The Wine Spectator reviewer was highly impressed saying “Reminds me of the 1989 Petrus - stunning Merlot”. Even at 17 years of age I probably drank this a few years early. One of the 1001 Wines.
Wonderful perfume, wonderful palate, wonderful wine! Aromatic red and black fruits, spicy, plummy, with a leather note and a menthol, slightly tarry note. Finishes with fine dry, sandy tannins. The Wine Spectator reviewer was highly impressed saying “Reminds me of the 1989 Petrus - stunning Merlot”. Even at 17 years of age I probably drank this a few years early. One of the 1001 Wines.
May 6th, 2024
Lovely. Silky. Always classy.
Lovely. Silky. Always classy.
Jun 15th, 2023
Night 1 of the Fall WNH event in San Antonio. What a killer start to the extended weekend, all courtesy to Shawn and Jennifer for hosting! Tonight was Italian wines.
Dominant Merlot. Great depth. Extracted blackberries on the nose with new saddle leather. Bloodied plum and muddled raspberries. This is a beautiful wine! Nice bottle @Joe Lucca !
Night 1 of the Fall WNH event in San Antonio. What a killer start to the extended weekend, all courtesy to Shawn and Jennifer for hosting! Tonight was Italian wines.
Dominant Merlot. Great depth. Extracted blackberries on the nose with new saddle leather. Bloodied plum and muddled raspberries. This is a beautiful wine! Nice bottle @Joe Lucca !
Divine. Coffee, mulling spices, dark berry compote with chewy tannins. A treat
Divine. Coffee, mulling spices, dark berry compote with chewy tannins. A treat
May 15th, 2018