Monday, April 28, 2008

More Oil: Two site specific Tuscans


The Rare Wine Company knows their madeira and their Tuscan olive oils. I tried two of these oils recently; both are from the same producer and reflect two different olive grove sites.

Grati 'Monte' Orcio 4 Single Cru Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2007
Very crisp, green aromas of freshly cut grass, which follows through to a grassy, peppery palate.

Grati 'Vetrice' Orcio 4 Single Cru Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2007

Darker shade of green, with a very grassy nose and strong, full-bodied, slightly bitter olive oil taste. It's more viscous, more deeply flavored, and the more intense of these two oils.

I enjoy comparing different extra virgin olive oils at various price points: the supermarket stuff, to the slightly better brand, to what might be your favorite go to (for me it's Frantoia from Sicily), to a very limited production, artisanal oil. The progression of intensity, viscosity, and spice is pretty interesting to taste side by side.