Galatrona, Petrolo 2022 75cl

Galatrona is Tuscany's answer to Pomerol, and one of Italy's most celebrated Merlots. This is Petrolo's flagship, a wine that regularly draws comparison with the great right-bank Bordeaux while remaining defiantly, gloriously Tuscan in its energy.

The estate sits in the Valdarno di Sopra, between Florence and Arezzo, and the Galatrona vineyard climbs the highest, coolest slopes on soils rich in clay and stone. Luca Sanjust farms Merlot here with obsessive care, and the wine is aged in French oak. The 2022 comes from a warm but balanced vintage, and it shows the plush concentration and structural poise that have made Galatrona a modern icon.

Expect a deep, layered nose of black cherry, blackberry, plum, violets, graphite, dark chocolate and a waft of cedar and sweet spice. The palate is full-bodied and opulent, with dense, velvety fruit, tannins that are ripe and finely polished, and a savoury, mineral spine that keeps all that richness in tension. It is powerful yet elegant, and the finish is long, spiced and beautifully composed.

At around £120 this is a genuine special-occasion wine, and it more than earns its place beside far pricier names. It is approachable now with a long decant but will reward a decade or more of patience. A benchmark Italian Merlot for the cellar.

How to Serve

Serve at 16–18°C in a large Bordeaux glass. Decant for at least two hours, especially in youth.

Where to Drink It

Bocca di Lupo in Soho treats Tuscan icons properly. Trullo in Highbury has the cooking for it. Locanda Locatelli in Marylebone suits the occasion.

Food Pairings

Superb with roast fillet of beef. Also a fine match for aged Pecorino and truffle.