Galatrona is Petrolo's flagship and one of the most awarded wines of the estate. It is a wine of great structure on the palate, and wildly aromatic on the nose. First produced in 1994, this 100% Merlot comes from estate vines planted in the early 90’s. The vineyard extends over 3 hectares, and is the first vineyard of Merlot that Petrolo planted. The yield per vine is limited, allowing for the concentration of components fundamental to achieve the structure, elegance, balance and persistence wanted for this wine.

Macerated on the skins for 2 weeks or more, the pump-overs are done often and with considerable care to allow for complete and gentle extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barriques, and the wine is then aged in new French barriques for approximately 18 months. During this period the wine is left for the first 6 months on the fine lees, which allows the finished product to achieve greater complexity.

The 2018 Petrolo Galatrona IGT Merlot from Tuscany embodies excellence in winemaking, as evidenced by its consistently high ratings from top wine critics. This wine, crafted by Petrolo, is a celebrated expression of Merlot, produced in the Val d'Arno di Sopra appellation. It is noteworthy that Petrolo is a certified organic grower, adding an element of sustainability to its accolades.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this vintage a score of 97, praising its "beautifully soft and supple expression" with flavors of dark fruit, cherry, blackberry, tobacco, and smoked cedar wood. The review highlights the balance and elegance of the wine, noting its intensity and depth without heaviness (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).

Decanter also rated the wine 97, describing it as "seductive with tons of finesse and layers of liquorice and olive paste." The review appreciates the wine's confidence, complexity, and freshness, attributing this to the favorable growing season in 2018. The wine's fermentation in small barrels and amphoras, along with manual punching down of the skins, contributes to its distinct character (Decanter).

James Suckling offered an even higher score of 98, emphasizing the wine's aromatic profile with notes of blackberries, black olives, and violets. He commended its "precise and polished" nature, with creamy, layered tannins and a persistent finish, noting the purity and complexity from organically grown grapes (James Suckling).

Vinous provided a score of 96, highlighting the wine's elegance and nuance, with flavors of black cherry, chocolate, and licorice. The review describes the 2018 Galatrona as understated and refined (Vinous).

Wine Spectator gave the wine a score of 93, noting its rich blackberry and black cherry flavors, with accents of fresh herbs and smoky oak. The review describes the wine as "charming, classy and confident" (Wine Spectator).

In summary, the 2018 Petrolo Galatrona IGT Merlot is a testament to the potential of Tuscan Merlot, with its harmonious blend of complexity, elegance, and purity.