Petrolo has become one of the most talked about Tuscan estates in recent years.  It is situated in the Colli Aretini, bordering on the Chianti hills, in an historical area delimited in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III de’ Medici as one of Tuscany’s top four wine producing zones... The Petrolo estate was part of the old medieval fiefdom of ‘Galatrona’, the old tower (‘Torrione’) of which still remains on top of Roman foundations. Luca Sanjust runs the estate and the vibrancy and intensity of the fruit that he is getting in his wines has brought them some well deserved attention. Country: Italy Region: Tuscany Varietal: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot Vintage: 2012 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Petrolo Description: Vineyards The grapes are grown in the low-yielding Torrione vineyard on the Petrolo estate. Fruit for this wine came from vineyards planted in the 1970s and some more recently planted vineyards. The soil consists of rocky stratifications of galestro, clay-like earth with schist typical of the Apennine areas in Tuscany. Vintage information After a winter characterised by scarce rainfall, spring was colder than usual. Flowering occurred slightly earlier and fruit set was uneven due to the low spring temperatures. Factors including high temperatures from May and a lack of rainfall contributed to water stress in the vineyards. The resulting smaller grapes recovered at the end of August and early September thanks to rainfall in this period. Harvest began at the end of August. Although Tuscany experienced a smaller harvest, down 15-20 % on normal yields, 2018 was a vintage of excellent quality. Vinification Maceration and fermentation took place in concrete vats and lasted approximately 14 days. Regular and frequent pumping over at the beginning of fermentation allowed maximum extraction of colour and tannins. Malolactic fermentation followed immediately. In December the wine was racked partly into French oak barriques (30% new), partly into 30 hectolitre oak barrels. It matured for 15 months with the first six months on the lees. After bottling it was aged for a further six months before release. Ageing Potential: 15 - 20 Years Tasting Note: Tasting Notes Ruby red in colour, with an intensely perfumed nose of wild red and black fruit, cherries and raspberries and spicy vanilla from the oak ageing. Lovely weight on the palate with the oak adding polish and roundness to the structure of the Sangiovese. Food Matches:Red Meat / Beef / Lamb / Venison