Antonio Galloni 96
 
The flagship 2018 Galatrona, 100% Merlot, is very beautiful. Silky tannins wrap around a core of Merlot fruit. I am struck by how elegant the 2018 is, as Galatrona is so often a wine of impact. Black cherry, chocolate, game, leather, licorice and spice give the 2018 a good bit of nuance. This is an especially understated, refined edition of Galatrona.
 
Petrolo is a leading wine estate of Tuscany, Italy. It is located a mile or so to the east of Chianti Classico, within the Chianti Colli Aretini zone. It is widely regarded as rivalling many Chianti Classico properties in terms of quality, and is best known for its high-quality Sangiovese-based wines. The estate has 31 hectares (76 acres) of vineyards with rocky soils that are typical of the Chianti region. The favorable terroir is aided by the site's altitude of up to 450 meters (1500 feet) above sea level. The sunny exposure allows grapes to develop concentrated flavor compounds with good acidity.