Luca Sanjust's Petrolo 2020 Torrione comes from a cool vineyard site surrounded by thick green forests. Made primarily with Sangiovese (and smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot), the wine delivers beautiful fruit freshness with forest berry, cherry, blue flower and grilled herb. Production was down to about 35,000 bottles in this vintage (from about 60,000) because some of the Sangiovese was used in the Bòggina C single-vineyard wine instead. This is a highly accessible and enjoyable organic wine with a linear approach and a pretty dusty note on the tannins. This wine was first produced in 1988.

The Petrolo 2019 Torrione is Sangiovese with with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This is a terrific wine with an exciting delivery of fresh and bold fruit that recalls pressed cherry and wild plum. One of the main features of the 2019 vintage is that standout concentration. The wine delivers good texture and richness, yet the intensity is well played and contained. A lingering note of sweetness that I also notice on Petrolo's other 2019 releases is present here.

This vintage is an IGT Toscana wine instead of a Valdarno di Sopra appellation expression. The 2017 Torrione is mostly Sangiovese with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blended within. This is a full and complete wine that embraces all the heat and dryness of the vintage, and it incorporates those well, without appearing too heavy or rich. You feel the 2017 vintage heat in terms of the plumpness and darkness of the fruit, but the results are never overdone. It offers beautiful density and succulence.

The 2012 Torrione is a plush and beautiful wine although the vintage heat does leave its mark. There is a slightly amber hue and the rim and the fruit is mature with plum, dried cherry and blackberry preserves. The mouthfeel shows dusty mineral tones and silky tannins. The blend is mostly Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This vintage marks the 25th anniversary of the wine (1988-2012).

The 2011 Torrione is 85% Sangiovese tweaked with small parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite those added elements, what really comes through here is the purity of Sangiovese with its bright aromas of red cherry, pressed violets and dark earth. There-s a fresh point of acidity that really brings home those varietal characteristics. It shows balance, elegance and firmness. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2022. Luca Sanjust has embarked on a whole slew of new projects at his beautiful estate located in the southeast part of Chianti, near the Chianti Classico boarder. His first priority is returning to a cru-specific philosophy. He sees his top wine, for example, less as an expression of Merlot than an expression of the Galatrona single-vineyard. The Boggina site is planted to Sangiovese, and Luca explains that this spectacular vineyard has existed since the 1700s. He has two new wines from this site (one aged in amphora and one aged in barrel) that symbolize two voices from a single site. Importer: Vintus; www.vintuswines.com