I am going to miss this wine. It has been a staple in my cellar. Think Italian Bordeaux, at a very reasonable price point. Easy to drink. Pairs well with food, but just as good on its own. I also especially enjoy it during cold weather. I like pouring a big glass, one-third of the bottle.
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Simply great wine! Drank next to two other more expensive Italian wines, and this likely won. I bought two cases of this, and now I wish that I had more.
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Very nice Sangiovese blend, at good price point. Still very good on second night which tells me it can survive a few more years or a nice decant. Paired with an Alfredo sauce, it was perfect.
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Nice easy drinking everyday Sangiovese blend. A little on the Smokey side, which is an interesting and somewhat unique twist. Good accompaniment to pizza. Think there is probably some room for modest improvement with further maturation, although I don’t think this will be a long lived wine. Drink now with brief decant or hold for up to 5 years.
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Even after a day open, I find it still quite tight and tannic. It has all the lovely elements I want, but not sure if the fruit will ever hold up to that structure so I won't prognosticate what will happen down the road. It could be very nice, indeed. I'll probably wait a year to try another. 5+11+16+8= 90
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I am nearly finished with the two cases purchased. This is killer wine - even more so for the price - that will be difficult to replace. It is no guilt. Bordeaux profile. Italian style. Full body. Olives. Forest floor and fruit. Dry. So very good. Memories of Tuscany. This was one of my best finds ever.
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Good>very good. My second of three purchased at release for just $24; it's always over-delivered that price point. Earthy, sapid, with balance, and harmony that guide this to an elegant, lingering finish. I'll drink my remaining bottle some time in the coming five years. Easily in the top quartile of wines coming from this region in the under $40 category. Gladly recommended.
Similar to the 2019 I had the other day, the fruit is mainly cherry, but with plum and ripe blackberry behind it rather than blueberry. Dry herbs and earth present mid palate on, with tobacco on the back end keeping things together. Less fruit, more herb and tar than the 2019. Just as balanced, but smoother and rounder. Very much in the same ballpark -that is to say, this is delicious- but the incense and cedar notes of the 2019 put it a cut above, in my opinion.
Day 2. Definitely adding a point, and am close to adding two. The flavors have developed nicely with all being higher fidelity and in greater harmony -and a bit of cedar incense has come out to play, as well as some oil cured black olives.
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15 min slow ox in glass. Dark! Very BDX-like. Can't believe there's only 20% Merlot + Cab! Mocha and cassis, with only a hint of Sangio acid on the palate. Plenty of room to grow. 91+
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I have already reviewed this wine within the last couple of days. I was not as effusive as I have previously been. But today’s bottle was a return to its best. It has lovely Cabernet flavours that are balanced within the wine. But overall it has luscious, silky and velvety fruit characteristics. It’s a wine I really rate highly.
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Really lovely wine. It needed to breathe for about an hour or so before it opened up. The merlot fills out the middle of the wine. It’s a medium weight wine with some noticeable minerality. It’s developed a deep ruby colour. Lovely tannins fill the mouth and it has a prolonged finish. The fruit has married with the tannins and it’s developed bottle characteristics reflecting some earthiness. The Cabernet comes through on the palate
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In Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon blends, it takes some time for the backbone of the cab to start showing through. With this Torrione it has done just that. Spice and dark fruit flavours make an initial impression, then come the black current and cedar elements of the Cabernet Sauvignon to produce a beautifully balanced wine, which linger on. All together, an outstanding bottle.
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We had pasta with a sauce of kale from our winter garden. Storm was raging outside. Needing something warming. This is Italian, but the small amount of merlot and CS is really clear. Went great with the food, but I wouldn't necessarily have it with a tomato-based sauce or a bistecca Fiorentini. (Since my trip to Tuscany, beginning to feel that is a bit of a tourist thing, but I do love thick cuts grilled rare and matched with Brunello and other great Sangio.) Anyway, this is an old reliable drink, and glad I bought two, but there are a lot of interesting wines in this range that speak more of place and history to me. If you haven't had this, have some. An interesting way to blend sangio for those less excited by high acid and tannin and wanting a rounder wine.
80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon of DOC Val d'Arno di Sopra, Pietraviva Rosso from all the vineyards of Petrolo, including Bòggina (Sangiovese), Galatrona (Merlot) and Campo Lusso (Cabernet Sauvignon) that are meticulously and organically farmed (certified since 2016). Manual harvest in crates and selection on sorting table. Natural vinification in glazed concrete vats with native yeasts and frequent, soft manual pumping over. Long macerations. Spontaneous malolactic in wood vats. Aged 15-18 months in concrete tanks, 40Hl French oak barrels, tonneaux and barriques. 14% Abv. 46,500 bottles and 1000+ larger formats.
First vintage 1988 inaugurated by Lucia Bazzocchi Sanjust with the help of former wine consultant Giulio Gambelli. 30th vintage, with "heart" on label by acclaimed artist Sabina Mirri.
Background: Owned by Giorgio Perrin in the 1800s and acquired by the Bazzocchi family in 1947 headed by Lucia Bazzocchi Sanjust (d. 2019) and succeeded by son Luca Sanjust. Proprietor/Winemaker: Luca Sanjust di Teulada Enologists: Stefano Guidi and Simone Cuccoli Agronomist: Carlo Nesterini
A(ccuray)=2: Deep crimson/ruby. Robust Super Tuscan blend. B(alance)=2: Distinctive components with firm structure. C(omplexity)=2: Dark fruits, olive, nuts, tobacco. D(epth)=2: Chewy mouthfeel. Full palate and long finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,2,2,2]= 8/10
Balance should improve with further integration of tannin. Fine choice on Valentine's Day.
For story-telling label graphics, see: [https://www.instagram.com/p/CoyqrpQoMao/] [https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/] For a video explanation of WineTally (in 8 languages) see: Wine Tally on www.youtube.com.
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At first open… Barnyard notes hit pretty good…. After 2 hours it’s a very pretty cherry earthy drinking experience.. Cherry front center and back….. Seems young still and a bit backwards…
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I did not drink this for a while because I purchased so much and it started boring me. After a six month break, we are back together for the better. This wine is excellent, and an even better bargain. Olives and herbs including rosemary. Good balance. Some earth on the finish. Definitely Old World and similar to traditional style Bordeaux. Perfect for pasta with red sauce.
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If you’re a fan of Italian wines, and who isn’t, the name of Petrolo should be on your list of wineries making exceptional wines. First amongst is their flagship wine, the 100% Merlot-based wine – Galatrona. Whose efforts from its beginnings in 1994 have been nothing less than outstanding.
Next up, comes today’s wine, which has also produced stunning wines even longer, since 1988.
Fattoria Petrolo "Torrione" 2018
From the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, and the sub-region of Pietraviva ("Living Rock"), comes this blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from all Estate and organically grown fruit. Maturation occurs in concrete tanks, French oak barrels, tonneaux, and barriques for 15 to 18 months.
The “Unsolved Mystery” comes about due to the addition of the beautiful heart-shaped artwork on the label. With my super-sleuth powers, I was determined to find out why it was added to this vintage.
First off, I say “when in doubt, go to the source.” I did and found this partially revealing explanation from the winery: “TORRIONE TURNS THIRTY! (1988-2018). The 2018 vintage receives on its label a special loving heart, not only to celebrate this special occasion but also because 2018 is one of the nicest and endearing versions ever made. The new graphic was made with the contribution of Sabina Mirri, internationally acclaimed artist.”
Okay, good explanation, but the words “not only” reflect more possibilities.
From an acclaimed reviewer, came this suggestion: “I imagine that the heart could be dedicated to proprietor Luca Sanjust's rambunctious mother who recently passed away.” Ah, yes, what better way to honor a mother, and with what looks like wings on the heart, a reference to angels? But is that the whole story? I think not!
Hours and hours of research continued until I had exhausted all efforts and possibilities. Alas, I could find no further reference for that beautiful heart.
Damn my honesty and my desire to retain my stellar reputation; in all honesty, my search lasted all of 10 minutes, at most. Looking for a website that might reveal the hidden secret.
With my reputation in tack, what I can tell you about the wine is nothing less than excellence in a glass. Deep dark dried cherry with blackberry nuances wrapped in a pleasant earthiness. Tannins that are present and firm. Good acidity continues throughout to a slightly spiced finish. Worthy of the many excellent reviews and scores.
So while the “whole” mystery of the heart is yet unsolved, there should be no mystery, nor any hesitancy, in adding this wine to your list.
PNP….so maybe that’s the issue,….tart and acidic on the mid palate and finish, so much so as to not be enjoyable…. First part of the tongue seems like decent fruit ….will vacuvin and try another day to see if it changes…
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of potpourri, berries, perfume and cherries. Flavors of Bing cherries, red raspberries and earth. Bright acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Opaque crimson colour, but that first nose has too much Brett for me and C and it doesn’t blow off. So much to enjoy in the fruit and structure of this wine (even though C and I disagreed over whether the French oak was overbearing), but the cidery funk both on the nose and the palate made that pleasure hard for me to access. Going on the notes below I’m either overly brett sensitive or we had an atypical bottle.
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Coravin; 150 minutes in the glass before tasting. Powerful aroma of olives; also herbs, including rosemary. Nice balance, but more toward dry and acidic. Tart cherries. Some earth on the finish. Definitely Old World and similar to traditional style Bordeaux.
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Dark ruby garnet in color, bordering on opaque. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of dusty/earthy & dried herbs, spices, cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Medium bodied with good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & plums with cocoa, spices, herbs & minerals. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but has the fruit and structure to continue developing with additional aging for a few more years although it appears to be meant for mid-term drinkability.
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A very Bordeaux like sangiovese blend with bright fruit and personality. Silky tannins and medium+ acidity. I wish oak was not so evident. You can actually chew it. Otherwise nice wine.
Not sure how much I like it because its terroir and tannins are such dominant players. I’m not crazy about that much distinctiveness. So, while it’s got potential, it needs more time, in hopes that those two elements meld and mellow. I’ll try again in 2024.
My guilt free selection for the last night of the year, and my last bottle of wine for a while. I really like this wine. It pairs exceptionally well with food. See my previous notes for detailed flavor profile. Old World style Bordeaux with Sangiovese in the blend!
The challenge to myself today is to describe this wine with no repeated language from previous comments. Nose of flowers, with some slight funk. Wood. Leather. Balsamic vinegar. Strawberry. Raspberry tea. Acid. The texture coats my throat like Nebbiolo; it is a similar mouthfeel to that varietal, although not as syrupy. Some char, but no smoke. Distinctly European in style. Overall: equilibrium. It would be interesting to drink this next to Left Bank Bordeaux and Chateau Musar. This is very high QPR, as in buy three/four cases (I have two). Fattoria Petrolo Torrione is the new no guilt house wine.
Bold bouquet of fruit, espresso, tobacco, herbs, sap, green peppercorns, tar, black earth, and minerals. The wine tastes like it smells and held form over both days. Slightly more juicy on the first day. Noticeably more earth on the second. Strikingly compact and precise. No stewiness, balanced acidity, rock solid tannic structure. Several years in bottle will serve it well. High QPR!
Dark cherry. Eucalyptus. Oak. Olives. Nuts. Tart. Some intensity similar to Amarone. Sediment. I love this IGT, especially for the price. The wine paired perfectly with rosemary sous vide airline chicken breast finished in a pan with olive oil.
Massive smell and taste of olives, espcecially Nicoise. Very similar to old style Left Bank Bordeaux. I did not even pick up the Sangiovese. Great wine. Nice change. My plan is to deploy this for the holidays.
Very nice Super Tuscan. Predominantly Sangiovese with Merlot and Cabernet. Remarkably smooth with soft and supple tannins. Cherry, mushroom, strawberry notes. Drink now or hold. At around $25, very good QPR. Cheers!
Dark crimson color. Good on Day One; home run on Day 2. Bordeaux meets Sangiovese. Lots of dark black cherry, herbs, terroir, along with the cranberry/raisin flavors one would expect from Toscana. Medium bodied, with great acidity. Fabulous with a Bolognese sauce. Costco find. Great QPR.
Cabernet dominant blend. Really fun and tasty with a silky black currant and herb laced profile. Went well with steak. Surprised how much sediment had been thrown already.
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PnP and in the glass for an hour. Really nice wine and could age for awhile.
Herbs, blackberries, and brick on the nose. Palate is elegant but has plenty of charm with blackberry, sour cherry, thyme leaves, and some earthiness. Very long finish with fruits, graphite, tannic grip, and herbs.
Really nice wine and has some serious potential for improvement. Clearly a baby.
Drink now, or get a case and forget about it for 10 years. Will be a stunner when this fully resolves and comes around.
Russk. I brought to CDC at Andrea's house. It was well received. Showing nicely for its youth. Still like this producer. It was easy to pick up the noses of Bdx varietals. Likely Even better in a couple of years. Purchased from All Star for approximately $24. 91‐ pts.
First one of these we've tried from the 2018 vintage. Beautiful, powerful aromas of earth, stewed plums and lavender on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and more plush in texture than previous vintages. Bursting with ripe, tangy blackberry, plum and sour cherry fruit, displaying excellent depth and intensity. Finishes quite long, with lingering notes of dried herbs, graphite and mineral along with plenty of tannic grip. Youthully restrained, this is a more muscular style of Torrione. There is more Cabernet and Merlot in the blend for 2018 and it definitely shows. Still a baby, this could really be something special in a few years time, once it has loosened up and softened a bit. Bravo, Luca! 92++ 50+5+13+16+8=92
Color: medium ruby Nose: starts out with barn and geranium. After a bit of opening up there is an abundant amount of cherry and sour cherry, and something darker too. Little bit of smoke. Definitely green belpepper from the Cabernet. Barrel influence mainly on spice notes Palate: fantastic high acidity. Dusty cherry. Medium full here with chewy tannins that work excellently with meat. Mineral backbone and just savory and serious but also pure in the fruit Finish: medium
Qpr super here, so much personality. This here is my weeknight red for the foreseeable future. Best after 2 hours of air, can definitely take 3-5 years in cellar with this structure. Just a great bottle of real, true terroir driven wine, at this price it must be tried at least
2/20/2024 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
See previous note. Italian Bordeaux. One of my best “ordinary” wine buys ever. The last bottle, except for the magnum.
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2/12/2024 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Quite stacked and packed, showing a good sense of terrior. Will continue to improve. Always impressive for the price. 92++pts.
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2/3/2024 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I am going to miss this wine. It has been a staple in my cellar. Think Italian Bordeaux, at a very reasonable price point. Easy to drink. Pairs well with food, but just as good on its own. I also especially enjoy it during cold weather. I like pouring a big glass, one-third of the bottle.
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1/27/2024 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Simply great wine! Drank next to two other more expensive Italian wines, and this likely won. I bought two cases of this, and now I wish that I had more.
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1/14/2024 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Very nice Sangiovese blend, at good price point. Still very good on second night which tells me it can survive a few more years or a nice decant. Paired with an Alfredo sauce, it was perfect.
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8/22/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice easy drinking everyday Sangiovese blend. A little on the Smokey side, which is an interesting and somewhat unique twist. Good accompaniment to pizza. Think there is probably some room for modest improvement with further maturation, although I don’t think this will be a long lived wine. Drink now with brief decant or hold for up to 5 years.
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8/7/2023 - fingers Likes this wine: 90 Points
Even after a day open, I find it still quite tight and tannic. It has all the lovely elements I want, but not sure if the fruit will ever hold up to that structure so I won't prognosticate what will happen down the road. It could be very nice, indeed. I'll probably wait a year to try another. 5+11+16+8= 90
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8/6/2023 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I am nearly finished with the two cases purchased. This is killer wine - even more so for the price - that will be difficult to replace. It is no guilt. Bordeaux profile. Italian style. Full body. Olives. Forest floor and fruit. Dry. So very good. Memories of Tuscany. This was one of my best finds ever.
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8/1/2023 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank over two nights. Bordeaux attributes. Full bodied. Black olive. Leather. Tobacco. Dry. Better on day two.
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7/29/2023 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Good>very good. My second of three purchased at release for just $24; it's always over-delivered that price point. Earthy, sapid, with balance, and harmony that guide this to an elegant, lingering finish. I'll drink my remaining bottle some time in the coming five years. Easily in the top quartile of wines coming from this region in the under $40 category. Gladly recommended.
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
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7/25/2023 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Again, this tastes like very good Bordeaux to me.
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7/20/2023 - KJD45$ wrote: 85 Points
Barnyard on open nose…
Cherry earth menthol notes
Too many weird inputs to be good to me
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7/17/2023 - Dozhdbog Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar to the 2019 I had the other day, the fruit is mainly cherry, but with plum and ripe blackberry behind it rather than blueberry. Dry herbs and earth present mid palate on, with tobacco on the back end keeping things together.
Less fruit, more herb and tar than the 2019. Just as balanced, but smoother and rounder.
Very much in the same ballpark -that is to say, this is delicious- but the incense and cedar notes of the 2019 put it a cut above, in my opinion.
Day 2.
Definitely adding a point, and am close to adding two. The flavors have developed nicely with all being higher fidelity and in greater harmony -and a bit of cedar incense has come out to play, as well as some oil cured black olives.
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7/8/2023 - lemoncrush wrote: 89 Points
한참 열어놔야 91점 정도 나오는데…
한참 열어놔야 하는게 단점 ㅎㅎ
좀 더 뒀다 드시거나
오래 열어둬야한다
나는 soso
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6/14/2023 - BHRH Likes this wine: 91 Points
15 min slow ox in glass. Dark! Very BDX-like. Can't believe there's only 20% Merlot + Cab! Mocha and cassis, with only a hint of Sangio acid on the palate. Plenty of room to grow. 91+
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5/14/2023 - AKC Likes this wine: 94 Points
I have already reviewed this wine within the last couple of days. I was not as effusive as I have previously been. But today’s bottle was a return to its best. It has lovely Cabernet flavours that are balanced within the wine. But overall it has luscious, silky and velvety fruit characteristics. It’s a wine I really rate highly.
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5/12/2023 - AKC Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really lovely wine. It needed to breathe for about an hour or so before it opened up. The merlot fills out the middle of the wine. It’s a medium weight wine with some noticeable minerality. It’s developed a deep ruby colour. Lovely tannins fill the mouth and it has a prolonged finish. The fruit has married with the tannins and it’s developed bottle characteristics reflecting some earthiness. The Cabernet comes through on the palate
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5/2/2023 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still tastes like good Bordeaux to me!
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4/12/2023 - easyB Likes this wine: 92 Points
In Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon blends, it takes some time for the backbone of the cab to start showing through. With this Torrione it has done just that. Spice and dark fruit flavours make an initial impression, then come the black current and cedar elements of the Cabernet Sauvignon to produce a beautifully balanced wine, which linger on. All together, an outstanding bottle.
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3/28/2023 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Olives. Bordeaux profile. High QPR. So good with food, especially pasta.
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3/21/2023 - Not647f wrote:
We had pasta with a sauce of kale from our winter garden. Storm was raging outside. Needing something warming. This is Italian, but the small amount of merlot and CS is really clear. Went great with the food, but I wouldn't necessarily have it with a tomato-based sauce or a bistecca Fiorentini. (Since my trip to Tuscany, beginning to feel that is a bit of a tourist thing, but I do love thick cuts grilled rare and matched with Brunello and other great Sangio.) Anyway, this is an old reliable drink, and glad I bought two, but there are a lot of interesting wines in this range that speak more of place and history to me. If you haven't had this, have some. An interesting way to blend sangio for those less excited by high acid and tannin and wanting a rounder wine.
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2/14/2023 - WineTally Likes this wine:
80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
of DOC Val d'Arno di Sopra, Pietraviva Rosso
from all the vineyards of Petrolo, including Bòggina (Sangiovese),
Galatrona (Merlot) and Campo Lusso (Cabernet Sauvignon) that
are meticulously and organically farmed (certified since 2016).
Manual harvest in crates and selection on sorting table.
Natural vinification in glazed concrete vats with native yeasts and
frequent, soft manual pumping over. Long macerations.
Spontaneous malolactic in wood vats.
Aged 15-18 months in concrete tanks, 40Hl French oak barrels,
tonneaux and barriques.
14% Abv. 46,500 bottles and 1000+ larger formats.
First vintage 1988 inaugurated by Lucia Bazzocchi Sanjust with the
help of former wine consultant Giulio Gambelli.
30th vintage, with "heart" on label by acclaimed artist Sabina Mirri.
Background: Owned by Giorgio Perrin in the 1800s and acquired by
the Bazzocchi family in 1947 headed by Lucia Bazzocchi Sanjust
(d. 2019) and succeeded by son Luca Sanjust.
Proprietor/Winemaker: Luca Sanjust di Teulada
Enologists: Stefano Guidi and Simone Cuccoli
Agronomist: Carlo Nesterini
A(ccuray)=2: Deep crimson/ruby. Robust Super Tuscan blend.
B(alance)=2: Distinctive components with firm structure.
C(omplexity)=2: Dark fruits, olive, nuts, tobacco.
D(epth)=2: Chewy mouthfeel. Full palate and long finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,2,2,2]= 8/10
Balance should improve with further integration of tannin.
Fine choice on Valentine's Day.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.instagram.com/p/CoyqrpQoMao/]
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
For a video explanation of WineTally (in 8 languages) see:
Wine Tally on www.youtube.com.
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12/28/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Exact same note as previous.
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12/27/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Intense aroma of olives… and Bordeaux! Poured for house guests. Great value and no regret.
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12/8/2022 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 90 Points
At first open…
Barnyard notes hit pretty good….
After 2 hours it’s a very pretty cherry earthy drinking experience..
Cherry front center and back…..
Seems young still and a bit backwards…
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12/7/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I did not drink this for a while because I purchased so much and it started boring me. After a six month break, we are back together for the better. This wine is excellent, and an even better bargain. Olives and herbs including rosemary. Good balance. Some earth on the finish. Definitely Old World and similar to traditional style Bordeaux. Perfect for pasta with red sauce.
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11/10/2022 - WilD wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well now.
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9/14/2022 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
"UN"solved Mystery
If you’re a fan of Italian wines, and who isn’t, the name of Petrolo should be on your list of wineries making exceptional wines. First amongst is their flagship wine, the 100% Merlot-based wine – Galatrona. Whose efforts from its beginnings in 1994 have been nothing less than outstanding.
Next up, comes today’s wine, which has also produced stunning wines even longer, since 1988.
Fattoria Petrolo "Torrione" 2018
From the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, and the sub-region of Pietraviva ("Living Rock"), comes this blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from all Estate and organically grown fruit. Maturation occurs in concrete tanks, French oak barrels, tonneaux, and barriques for 15 to 18 months.
The “Unsolved Mystery” comes about due to the addition of the beautiful heart-shaped artwork on the label. With my super-sleuth powers, I was determined to find out why it was added to this vintage.
First off, I say “when in doubt, go to the source.” I did and found this partially revealing explanation from the winery: “TORRIONE TURNS THIRTY! (1988-2018). The 2018 vintage receives on its label a special loving heart, not only to celebrate this special occasion but also because 2018 is one of the nicest and endearing versions ever made. The new graphic was made with the contribution of Sabina Mirri, internationally acclaimed artist.”
Okay, good explanation, but the words “not only” reflect more possibilities.
From an acclaimed reviewer, came this suggestion: “I imagine that the heart could be dedicated to proprietor Luca Sanjust's rambunctious mother who recently passed away.” Ah, yes, what better way to honor a mother, and with what looks like wings on the heart, a reference to angels? But is that the whole story? I think not!
Hours and hours of research continued until I had exhausted all efforts and possibilities. Alas, I could find no further reference for that beautiful heart.
Damn my honesty and my desire to retain my stellar reputation; in all honesty, my search lasted all of 10 minutes, at most. Looking for a website that might reveal the hidden secret.
With my reputation in tack, what I can tell you about the wine is nothing less than excellence in a glass. Deep dark dried cherry with blackberry nuances wrapped in a pleasant earthiness. Tannins that are present and firm. Good acidity continues throughout to a slightly spiced finish. Worthy of the many excellent reviews and scores.
So while the “whole” mystery of the heart is yet unsolved, there should be no mystery, nor any hesitancy, in adding this wine to your list.
Cheers
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8/5/2022 - jaisonaugustine wrote:
Smooth tannins, long on the finish, full bodied
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7/30/2022 - Leidersdorff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really really good wine.
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6/20/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Highly enjoyable with Italian food. Very nice balance.
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5/26/2022 - KJD45$ Likes this wine: 87 Points
PNP….so maybe that’s the issue,….tart and acidic on the mid palate and finish, so much so as to not be enjoyable….
First part of the tongue seems like decent fruit ….will vacuvin and try another day to see if it changes…
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5/25/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of herbs and olives.
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5/22/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Coravin. See previous note.
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5/16/2022 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of potpourri, berries, perfume and cherries. Flavors of Bing cherries, red raspberries and earth. Bright acidity, firm tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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5/2/2022 - ShakinSwedens wrote:
Opaque crimson colour, but that first nose has too much Brett for me and C and it doesn’t blow off. So much to enjoy in the fruit and structure of this wine (even though C and I disagreed over whether the French oak was overbearing), but the cidery funk both on the nose and the palate made that pleasure hard for me to access. Going on the notes below I’m either overly brett sensitive or we had an atypical bottle.
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4/18/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coravin; 150 minutes in the glass before tasting. Powerful aroma of olives; also herbs, including rosemary. Nice balance, but more toward dry and acidic. Tart cherries. Some earth on the finish. Definitely Old World and similar to traditional style Bordeaux.
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3/27/2022 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark ruby garnet in color, bordering on opaque. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of dusty/earthy & dried herbs, spices, cocoa, minerals & a hint of cedar in the background. Medium bodied with good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blueberries & plums with cocoa, spices, herbs & minerals. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but has the fruit and structure to continue developing with additional aging for a few more years although it appears to be meant for mid-term drinkability.
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3/20/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loads of mushrooms as well as herbs like rosemary. Earthy Bordeaux style with Sangiovese. Leather. Funk. This is solid wine, especially for the price.
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3/8/2022 - Peristero Likes this wine: 89 Points
A very Bordeaux like sangiovese blend with bright fruit and personality. Silky tannins and medium+ acidity. I wish oak was not so evident. You can actually chew it. Otherwise nice wine.
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2/23/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coravin. Please see previous notes. Again, big Sangiovese, but Bordeaux style.
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2/15/2022 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not sure how much I like it because its terroir and tannins are such dominant players. I’m not crazy about that much distinctiveness. So, while it’s got potential, it needs more time, in hopes that those two elements meld and mellow. I’ll try again in 2024.
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1/19/2022 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Coravin. Please see previous notes. Big Sangiovese with this bottle.
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12/31/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My guilt free selection for the last night of the year, and my last bottle of wine for a while. I really like this wine. It pairs exceptionally well with food. See my previous notes for detailed flavor profile. Old World style Bordeaux with Sangiovese in the blend!
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12/24/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Role reversal with the Chianti Classico Riserva (2018 Agricola San Felice Il Grigio). This was the better bottle.
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12/16/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking this wine caused me to crave Italian food.
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12/13/2021 - WilD wrote: 92 Points
Wine needs a serious decant. Great delicate nose. Roses. Fine sangiovese fruit.
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12/11/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The challenge to myself today is to describe this wine with no repeated language from previous comments. Nose of flowers, with some slight funk. Wood. Leather. Balsamic vinegar. Strawberry. Raspberry tea. Acid. The texture coats my throat like Nebbiolo; it is a similar mouthfeel to that varietal, although not as syrupy. Some char, but no smoke. Distinctly European in style. Overall: equilibrium. It would be interesting to drink this next to Left Bank Bordeaux and Chateau Musar. This is very high QPR, as in buy three/four cases (I have two). Fattoria Petrolo Torrione is the new no guilt house wine.
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12/10/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Definitely Old World. Lavender. Eucalyptus. Olives. Herbs. Savory. Oak. Cherry. Tannic. Balanced. I love this wine.
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12/10/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Wow, even on day three still kicking it.
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12/10/2021 - Leidersdorff Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a surprise. Very nice at this age. Very dry but still smooth. Nice nose which reminds me of Bdx but still with a Tuscan touch. Great value.
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11/26/2021 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Tasted over two days.
Bold bouquet of fruit, espresso, tobacco, herbs, sap, green peppercorns, tar, black earth, and minerals. The wine tastes like it smells and held form over both days. Slightly more juicy on the first day. Noticeably more earth on the second. Strikingly compact and precise. No stewiness, balanced acidity, rock solid tannic structure. Several years in bottle will serve it well. High QPR!
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11/21/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark cherry. Eucalyptus. Oak. Olives. Nuts. Tart. Some intensity similar to Amarone. Sediment. I love this IGT, especially for the price. The wine paired perfectly with rosemary sous vide airline chicken breast finished in a pan with olive oil.
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11/17/2021 - Doblk wrote: 90 Points
Softer after a night on vac. Mild meaty nose. Nice char and smoky quality. Big tart, chewy finish. It’ll keep for a while.
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10/29/2021 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Massive smell and taste of olives, espcecially Nicoise. Very similar to old style Left Bank Bordeaux. I did not even pick up the Sangiovese. Great wine. Nice change. My plan is to deploy this for the holidays.
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10/9/2021 - mcromain1021 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice Super Tuscan. Predominantly Sangiovese with Merlot and Cabernet. Remarkably smooth with soft and supple tannins. Cherry, mushroom, strawberry notes. Drink now or hold. At around $25, very good QPR. Cheers!
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10/7/2021 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark crimson color. Good on Day One; home run on Day 2. Bordeaux meets Sangiovese. Lots of dark black cherry, herbs, terroir, along with the cranberry/raisin flavors one would expect from Toscana. Medium bodied, with great acidity. Fabulous with a Bolognese sauce. Costco find. Great QPR.
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9/30/2021 - STM82 wrote: 93 Points
Cabernet dominant blend. Really fun and tasty with a silky black currant and herb laced profile. Went well with steak. Surprised how much sediment had been thrown already.
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9/28/2021 - Rbhan12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP and in the glass for an hour. Really nice wine and could age for awhile.
Herbs, blackberries, and brick on the nose. Palate is elegant but has plenty of charm with blackberry, sour cherry, thyme leaves, and some earthiness. Very long finish with fruits, graphite, tannic grip, and herbs.
Really nice wine and has some serious potential for improvement. Clearly a baby.
Drink now, or get a case and forget about it for 10 years. Will be a stunner when this fully resolves and comes around.
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9/23/2021 - pmik wrote: 89 Points
Jesper Hedegaard smagning
Ved første smag: ubalanceret, høj syre, koncentreret og voldsom
Vandt ved lidt tid i glasset, fra 87 til 89+
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8/22/2021 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. I brought to CDC at Andrea's house. It was well received. Showing nicely for its youth. Still like this producer. It was easy to pick up the noses of Bdx varietals. Likely Even better in a couple of years. Purchased from All Star for approximately $24. 91‐ pts.
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7/11/2021 - Bam_Man wrote: 92 Points
First one of these we've tried from the 2018 vintage. Beautiful, powerful aromas of earth, stewed plums and lavender on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and more plush in texture than previous vintages. Bursting with ripe, tangy blackberry, plum and sour cherry fruit, displaying excellent depth and intensity. Finishes quite long, with lingering notes of dried herbs, graphite and mineral along with plenty of tannic grip. Youthully restrained, this is a more muscular style of Torrione. There is more Cabernet and Merlot in the blend for 2018 and it definitely shows. Still a baby, this could really be something special in a few years time, once it has loosened up and softened a bit. Bravo, Luca! 92++
50+5+13+16+8=92
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6/6/2021 - John O' Likes this wine:
nice
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5/28/2021 - stet Likes this wine: 91 Points
Color: medium ruby
Nose: starts out with barn and geranium. After a bit of opening up there is an abundant amount of cherry and sour cherry, and something darker too. Little bit of smoke. Definitely green belpepper from the Cabernet. Barrel influence mainly on spice notes
Palate: fantastic high acidity. Dusty cherry. Medium full here with chewy tannins that work excellently with meat. Mineral backbone and just savory and serious but also pure in the fruit
Finish: medium
Qpr super here, so much personality. This here is my weeknight red for the foreseeable future. Best after 2 hours of air, can definitely take 3-5 years in cellar with this structure. Just a great bottle of real, true terroir driven wine, at this price it must be tried at least
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5/14/2021 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Quite concentrated, just tasted it on day one, hoping it will be more expressive on day two.
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