The 2019 Galatrona is a gorgeous wine. It possesses striking depth, but with the freshness and delineation that is a signature these days. Blue/purple fruit, mocha, incense, espresso and lavender build in this potent, pure Merlot from the hills. The 2019 is one of the better recent vintages I can remember tasting.

The violets and flowers with some asphalt and blackberries are so enticing on the nose. Green olives, too. It’s full-bodied and very tight in the mid-palate and surrounded by fine, polished tannins. It has a unique mouth-feel. Very impressive and enticing. Try after 2025, but already seductive.

Made with organic Merlot grapes, the Petrolo 2019 Galatrona is soft and luscious, spreading evenly over the palate with elegance and sweeping intensity. The bouquet shows dark fruit, black cherry and sweet prune. Those dark fruit tones are woven into pretty layers of spice, leather and perfumed tobacco. I like the tight, compact, yet fundamentally rich quality that is part of the mouthfeel in this important vintage. This wine could be considered a bit lighter and more ethereal compared to recent past releases, but I found that all the wines in this batch of new releases go in this same direction.

The 25th anniversary bottling of this 100% Merlot wine and jewel in the collection of owner-winemaker Luca Sanjust’s 10-hectare Fattoria di Petrolo estate, located just outside the Chianti Classico zone near Montevarchi. This has a wonderful floral touch to the aromas, beguiling and elegant, with a touch of wild strawberries. Satin-like at first, then the textured tannins settle surrounded by succulent cherry, raspberry and blackberry fruit finishing with a herbal lift at the end. Excellent drive, smooth and satisfying with a long life ahead.

The 20 year anniversary vintage of Luca Sanjust’s 10ha estate set at 300m of altitude in the southern part of Tuscany by the Chianti hills, showcasing the power of its clay soils. Heavy smoke on the opening, violet edging, plenty of light and shade to the ripe Merlot fruits, with a rough grain to the tannins that adds a seductive contrast to luscious raspberry and blackberry coulis. Softens on the finish but there is plenty of freshly cut rosemary, with the freshness of the Chianti hills.