Merlot Magnifico!

There are times, often many, when you acquire a wine that you either know if fabulous from a previous tasting, or you expect is fabulous from the reviews you've read.  Expectations can be lofty, and are often missed.

This is not one of those cases. 

I've had several vintages of Galatrona in the past.  It's a remarkable wine and in my opinion, is the best pure Merlot made in Italy after Redigaffi.  There are many in competition not far behind, but this wine screams Tuscany and is certainly amazing to drink. 

The 2009 Petrolo Galatrona is pure Merlot hand crafted in the heart of Tuscany.  The grape selection process is meticulous and nothing is left to chance. The manually intensive, devotion to quality is evident. 

The wine is dark purple in the glass, trending almost to black.  In the glass, there are violet streaks and reflections evident. The nose is at once complex and seamless; with dark ripe berry fruit framed with cigar box, espresso, sweet pipe tobacco and mint.  It's amazing.  On the palate, the wine is ripe, massively full bodied, lavishly oaked, and tannic. There is complexity lurking underneath and even on the ripe, silky, tannin shortened finish, you can appreciate the mint, mineral, eucalyptus and floral components to this ripe wine.  

E magnifico!  E vero, certo.   Decant now for an hour before trying, otherwise, this will be pure silk in a glass with about 3-5 years cellar time. About $100.  98 points. 

100% Pure Merlot from the Tuscan Hills.  Magnifico!