Petrolo: One of Tuscany & Italy's Great Wineries
Petrolo is the definition of a cult winery, with an owner and a story that have helped create its legendary status. Though virtually unknown even in the wine world, the Valdarno di Sopra denomination dates back to the days of the Medici family during the Renaissance, and the area has always been renowned for the winemaking potential of the tiny area of Tuscany near Chianti in which it is located. In the last fifteen years, Petrolo has established itself as one of Tuscany’s, and Italy’s, great wineries and is renowned above all for producing wines with a distinct regional identity.
2020 Petrolo – Galatrona – Toscana IGT “Valdarno di Sopra” – $196.95 per bottle Licensee – $219.95 per bottle retail.
6 packs – 48 bottles available.
“I was absolutely blown away by the wines I tasted from Petrolo this year. Proprietor Luca Sanjust and his team have done a remarkable job with the wines. “Overall, 2020 was marked by some pretty intense heat spikes and was not as even as 2019,” Sanjust notes. “On the other hand, it’s pretty hard to complain about vintages these days. I remember years in the 1980s my grandfather was not able to bottle at all because the fruit never ripened,” he adds, a reminder of how much things have changed in the present era, some for the better and some for the worse. In tasting, the flagship Merlot Galatrona is off the charts. It’s the best Galatrona I can remember tasting. There’s plenty of richness but also greater freshness than in the past.” Antonio Galloni – Vinous.
98 points Vinous
“The 2020 Galatrona is stunning. In fact, the 2020 is one of the best vintages of the Galatrona I can remember tasting. I am especially impressed by its vertical intensity and explosive energy. All the elements are so impeccably woven together. Dark-toned fruit, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and spice build into the intense, palate-staining finish. The 2020 spent 18-20 months in French oak, about 25% new, with some larger barrels thrown into the mix. Magnificent.”
96 points Wine Advocate
“The Petrolo 2020 Galatrona is a pure expression of organic Merlot and the estate’s headline wine. It was first created in 1994 when Luca Sanjust’s second child, Lucia, was born. Despite the summer heat that became a challenge for winemakers in many corners of Tuscany, Galatrona shows terrific results in 2020. The vineyard is located in a cool and thickly forested position almost exactly between Florence, Arezzo and Siena. The vintage has a classic quality with a subtle bouquet that grows in intensity as the wine opens in the glass. Aromas of cherry, toasted almond and dried mint fuel a long and very elegant finish. The oak tannins are soft and sweet, and the wine boasts long-lasting flavors.”
