Winemaker Notes
Galatrona is made entirely from pure Merlot grapes harvested around the middle of September. The yield per plant is notably restricted (max 2.0 lbs per vine plant) allowing a complete grape maturation to take place. This limited production permits the grapeskins to achieve highly concentrated levels of anthocyans and noble tannins, already sweetened due to the polymerization of the plant. The maceration on the skins lasts for 14 days. After the malolactic fermentation that takes place in French barrels of 225 liters, the wine is kept in new French oak barriques for 18 months.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Fantastic aromas of black olives, meat and berries with hints of violets. Complex. Full-bodied, velvety and long. Gorgeous and powerful Merlot. Blockbuster. This could be the wine of the vintage. Best after 2008. 650 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2003 Galatrona opens with a huge super-ripe nose. It is a big, plump effort packed with ripe red fruit, chocolate, tar, leather and scorched earth notes on an expansive, sumptuous frame. Today it does not appear to be built for the long haul and my impression is that it will offer its best drinking relatively early. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015.
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Wine Enthusiast
A slight opening on the nose houses flowery red fruit; it’s decidedly not a dark, heavy wine. But it does show some oak. The palate is hard-driving, with firm tannins supporting zesty, almost racy fruit. Nothing manipulated here; just ripe, ready rosso.
Legendary in Italy for its Renaissance art and striking landscape, Tuscany is also home to many of the country’s best red wines. Sangiovese reigns supreme here, as either the single varietal, or a dominant player, in almost all of Tuscany’s best.
A remarkable Chianti, named for its region of origin, will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and plenty of cherry fruit character. From the hills and valleys surrounding the medieval village of Montalcino, come the distinguished and age-worthy wines based on Brunello (Sangiovese). Earning global acclaim since the 1970s, the Tuscan Blends are composed solely of international grape varieties or a mix of international and Sangiovese. The wine called Vine Nobile di Montepulciano, composed of Prognolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and is recognized both for finesse and power.