The 2019 Galatrona is SOLD OUT much quicker than anticipated.

Apologies as it may take a while to find another Galatrona deal again as they are ultra-rare. Meanwhile… we stay in Tuscany and bring on a super popular Brunello producer’s 2018 vintage!

The 2015 and 2016 we blew through in the past put Pietroso amongst our most requested Italians. The terrific QPR helps, yet there’s very little to go around, sadly. This’ll be fast and furious like a droptop red Lambo unleashed on Autostrada A16 so buckle up! We secured every drop of this 2018 gem with double 95-point scores (and a 94 for good measure) taking things up a notch on the tachometer. In exotic car Italian, it’s an Aventador that leaves Huracáns in the rear-view mirror.

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous points out that “The estate was bought by Domenico Berni, nicknamed Belfo, in the 1970s (he was the fattore or main farmhand of Villa a Tolli, Poggio Salvi and others) with the objective to make wine for home use. He started out with 0.5 hectares but as everyone told him his wine was too good to be limited to family consumption, he began selling some with the 1978 vintage.”

Fast forward a bit: “Since 2010 they have been farming a small plot of vines at the top of the Montosoli hill that has been replanted to Sangiovese. The estate’s goal is to make a single vineyard or a Brunello selection from this very prestigious site, apparently blessed with a slightly warmer microclimate than the estate’s other sites… Pietroso’s wines have improved immeasurably over the last decade.” Obviously, they continue to improve.

Move quickly on this one too.

95 Points – Wine Enthusiast “The almost impossibly fresh nose drops you right onto a cliff’s jagged edge, where sprouts of mint and fennel fight their way through cracks in the stone, before friendlier aromas of cherry, spices and earth eventually emerge. That spicy fruit livens up the palate, which features notes of strawberry, plum, orange peel, cloves and licorice, while polished, lithe tannins swing from a trapeze above it all.”

95 Points – Winescritic.com “Chameleonic with a Bohemian nature alternating notes of lavender, hibiscus, plums, agapanthus flowers, sandalwood and gardenias. There’s more in the background in the hints of bergamot, blood orange and nipitella. Full bodied, perfectly matured tannins and a finale of remarkable grace and character. Better from 2025.”

94 Points – Decanter “Owner Gianni Pignattai farms 3.7 hectares of Brunello vineyards distributed among three separate plots, which he blends together. Following an admirable effort in the challenging 2017 vintage, Pietroso follows up with a beautiful 2018. It exudes pure red cherry and rose underscored by new leather and a suggestion of vanilla. Midweight and understated, this well-parsed Brunello offers just enough to sink your teeth into. The tannins are silky yet assertive, jaunty acidity elevates the red berry flavours, and the finish rings out with blood orange charm. Drink 2023-2033.”