2006 Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra

The Vineyard Galatrona is the Gran-cru of Merlot made from the vineyard of the same name planted between the end of the 80’s and half of the 90’s with low vigor bordeaux clones in the locality known as Feriale. The vineyard extends for 10 Ha with almost 50.000 plants grown on spurred cordon trellising. The soil Loam rich in clay, with shale, marl and sandstones. Altitude 300 m asl. South-eastern exposure. Placed on the south-eastern borders of the Chianti Hills, in the DOC Val d’Arno di Sopra. Clay helps keeping moisture in the soil, of which merlot has higher needs in the hot, dry, Tuscan summers. The combination of stones, shale and clay is among the elements that allow Galatrona to produce an elegant and full bodied wine even in what are considered minor vintages.

Manual harvest in crates and further grape selection with sorting table. Natural vinification with native yeasts in cement vats. Manual soft and frequent pumping over. Long skin maceration.

Spontaneous malo-lactic fermentation in wood. Maturation in Frech oak barrique, a third new, for about 18 – 20 months. Constant batonnage of the fine lees for the first 6 months.

Intense elegant wine with great structure and complexity, lovely balance between acidity, fruit and tannins. A great wine, beyond the grape varietal it is made from, must be expression of the piece of land it came from. Beyond being essentially good, it has to be a classic in its own way.