PETROLO Galatrona 2007 This property has become one of the most talked about Tuscan estates in recent years. Petrolo is situated in the area known as the Colli Aretini, bordering on the Chianti Hills, a historical area delimited in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III de. Medici as one of Tuscany.s top four wine producing zones. The Petrolo estate was part of the old medieval fiefdom of .Galatrona., the old tower (.Torrione.) of which still remains on top of Roman foundations. Today the property covers 272 hectares of which 31 are vineyards, situated between 250-450 metres above sea level. There are 19 Ha of olive groves and the rest of the estate is arable land and woods. Luca Sanjust runs the estate, having taken over from his mother, Lucia Bazzocchi. The vibrancy and intensity of the fruit that Luca is now getting in his wines has brought them some well-deserved attention. The vineyards were planted at the beginning of the ‘90s. Yields are low, producing just 500g of grapes per vine, which results in a wine with great concentration of flavour. The soil consists of rocky stratifications of galestro, clay-like earth with schist typical of the Apennine areas in Tuscany. The maceration on the skins lasted approximately 14 days. Regular and frequent pumping over at the beginning of fermentation was carried out to ensure maximum extraction of colour and ripe tannins. Malolactic fermentation took place in new French oak barriques, where the wine aged for 18 months, the first six of which were spent in contact with the fine lees. Deep ruby red in colour, with ripe cherries and plum perfumes on the nose, giving way to soft, ripe fruit and rounded spicy tannins on the palate. Dense and concentrated to the finish. "This has fabulous aromas of crushed blackberry, violet, toasty oak and black olive. Full-bodied with powerful, ripe tannins and amazing flavours of blueberry, dark chocolate and toast. Lasts for minutes on the palate. Reminds me of the 1989 Petrus. A stunning Merlot." 98 points, James Suckling, Wine Spectator, 31 Oct 09 SILVER - International Wine Challenge 2010 Vintage 2007 Grape varieties 100% Merlot Region Mercatale Valdarno Winemaker Stefano Guidi/Carlo Ferrini Closure Cork Alcohol (ABV) 14.3% Acidity 5.21g/l Wine pH 3.68 Find this wine at www.winestore.co.uk Price: £105.60 (Including VAT at 20%)