2011 Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra Tuscany

This is a phenomenal pure merlot with blueberries, raspberries and hints of milk chocolate. Some nutmeg, too. Full body with very fine yet chewy tannins and a long, intense finish. Reminds me of the amazing 1998. Best ever from here. Needs four or five years of bottle age to soften. Review Date: November 2013

Round and polished, packed with violet, black currant, cherry, mineral and spice flavors, supported by dense tannins. Spice and toast accents linger on the extended finish. Merlot. Best from 2016 through 2026. 384 cases imported. ?BS Review Date: April 2014

The 2011 Galatrona, which I tasted from cement, retains remarkable freshness and vibrancy for a vintage in which so many wines are on the edge of over ripeness. Sweet, floral notes add gorgeous aromatic overtones to balance the intensity of the Merlot fruit. Plum, black cherry, smoke, tar and licorice all flesh out on the voluptuous finish. Today, the 2011 is shaping up to be a superb Galatrona. Review Date: August 2013