Fattoria Petrolo
Galatrona Merlot
Tuscany, Italy
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish/brick rim.
Beautiful nose of black currants, cooked plums, light cedar, black tea, Mediterranean spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, light earth, cola and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, black pepper and black tea.
Medium minus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very tasty Merlot from Tuscany. Rich, extracted and still showing lots of fruit notes.
This 10 year old Merlot needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but drinking nicely now. Complex and nicely balanced.
The nose is just gorgeous, but the palate doesn’t quite match its complexity.
Needed 2 hours in the decanter to open up and show the beautiful nose.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 95 points.
This Super Tuscan is a little disappointing, as it received great reviews, but I had it blind, so it is what it is.
Good as a sipping wine and better with food.
100% Merlot grapes were aged in (33% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish/brick rim.
Beautiful nose of black currants, cooked plums, light cedar, black tea, Mediterranean spices, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, herbs, light earth, cola and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, black pepper and black tea.
Medium minus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very tasty Merlot from Tuscany. Rich, extracted and still showing lots of fruit notes.
This 10 year old Merlot needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but drinking nicely now. Complex and nicely balanced.
The nose is just gorgeous, but the palate doesn’t quite match its complexity.
Needed 2 hours in the decanter to open up and show the beautiful nose.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 95 points.
This Super Tuscan is a little disappointing, as it received great reviews, but I had it blind, so it is what it is.
Good as a sipping wine and better with food.
100% Merlot grapes were aged in (33% new) French Oak barrels for 18 months.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120.
Back when I was a University student 50 years ago I used to smoke a pipe and one of my favourite tobaccos was McBarens Plum Cake pipe tobacco. Tuscan Merlot often reminds me of that. I must admit I often prefer these wines when they are younger with more plummy, black cherry fruit and less earthy savouriness. The 2007 I had some time ago was better. Have the last bottle in the next couple of years. Postscript: 99 points from James Suckling.
Back when I was a University student 50 years ago I used to smoke a pipe and one of my favourite tobaccos was McBarens Plum Cake pipe tobacco. Tuscan Merlot often reminds me of that. I must admit I often prefer these wines when they are younger with more plummy, black cherry fruit and less earthy savouriness. The 2007 I had some time ago was better. Have the last bottle in the next couple of years. Postscript: 99 points from James Suckling.
Jan 24th, 2025Dark Ruby in colour. Rich aromas of Blue and black fruits, ripe plum, leather and pipe tobacco. On the medium to full bodied palate there is ripe plum, savoury blue berry, spice and dark chocolate finishing with fine grained tannins. In a blind tasting I would swear this had a Cabernet component but it is 100% delicious Tuscan Merlot. To be honest there are not special examples of Australian Merlot and I need to drink more of the grape to become more familiar with its flavour profile, but this was outstanding for sure.
Dark Ruby in colour. Rich aromas of Blue and black fruits, ripe plum, leather and pipe tobacco. On the medium to full bodied palate there is ripe plum, savoury blue berry, spice and dark chocolate finishing with fine grained tannins. In a blind tasting I would swear this had a Cabernet component but it is 100% delicious Tuscan Merlot. To be honest there are not special examples of Australian Merlot and I need to drink more of the grape to become more familiar with its flavour profile, but this was outstanding for sure.
1 person found it helpfulApr 21st, 2021
Very modern and ripe with a nose of cinnamon, spice and red plums. Good structure overall and very Merlot like. Decanted but could definitely use some bottle age. Not quite sure what I think of this wine. Maybe slightly overrated
Very modern and ripe with a nose of cinnamon, spice and red plums. Good structure overall and very Merlot like. Decanted but could definitely use some bottle age. Not quite sure what I think of this wine. Maybe slightly overrated
1 person found it helpfulDec 9th, 2019
Full bodied, nicely integrated tannins. No longer a baby but tasted fresh. Long long way to go. Delicious
Full bodied, nicely integrated tannins. No longer a baby but tasted fresh. Long long way to go. Delicious
Nov 23rd, 2024
great nose from the start. bit much on the mouth for an hour or so. decant to hit your sweet spot. Not gonna open another for awhile yet. historically these seem better with a decade+. unlikely to wait five years though. that’d be just crazy:-)
great nose from the start. bit much on the mouth for an hour or so. decant to hit your sweet spot. Not gonna open another for awhile yet. historically these seem better with a decade+. unlikely to wait five years though. that’d be just crazy:-)
Mar 17th, 2020
Unreal. Never had a 100% Merlot from Italy. Nearly perfect wine.
Unreal. Never had a 100% Merlot from Italy. Nearly perfect wine.
Feb 2nd, 2019
