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Villa Montalbano Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Nov 2009 Harvest)

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How is this made?
Villa Montalbano is a privately owned Single Estate near Pistoia, roughly midway between Pisa and Florence, in the northern part of the Chianti region. Owned by the Ridley family since the 1950s the story goes that Colonel Ridley’s father saved the life of an Italian soldier during the Second World War, and to repay this debt the soldier offered to act as an intermediary on behalf of the Ridley’s, to help them to secure a Tuscan estate. The estate they bought was mainly devoted to wine production, with alternating terraces of vines and olive trees. Since the growing conditions were not absolutely ideal for fine wine, they increased their focus on restoring the olive groves to which it is now entirely dedicated. The estate now produces about 1500 litres of First Class Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a good year. What is not sold at Demijohn is sold to Italian family friends in the local Montalbano area. They grow three ‘cultivars’ of olive on the estate, Lecco, Frantoio and Murioli; the ratio of these varieties gives their oil its distinctive flavour and colour. The trees are hand pruned in the spring and the oil harvested in late October through to late December. Again the olives are hand picked with the help of local families, who are repaid generously with up to half of the picked crop. The oil is then taken to be milled that same day to prevent any degradation, at the local 'Frantoio' co-operative mill. The olives are pressed mechanically ensuring the Extra Virgin status of the oil is preserved. The required maximum acidity for Extra Virgin Oil is 0.8% but Villa Montalbano regularly produces an oil under 0.4%. www.museodellolivo.com/eng/epercorsi.htm

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Villa Montalbano Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Nov 2009 Harvest)

Origin: Tuscany
Price: £3.40 per 100ml
Catalogue Code: OL0814DJL
Stock availability: Good

Tasting Notes
This year's harvest finally arrived with us from Villa Montalbano in late Dec 2009, a beautiful Scottish owned Single Estate near Pistoia. Harvesting for this oil actually took place in mid to late November 2009. Villa Montalbano had consistently produced a first class Tuscan extra v ....moreirgin olive oil from its harvests and this oil is no exception. You can find out more about the estate by reading How is this made? Its true quality lies is in its freshness. It has an exciting and concentrated taste as a result of it being a relatively early harvest for Tuscany. If you have never tried a really fresh oil it is never to late to start, as it is in a league of its own. Oil that is only a month or so old is alive and kicking with a concentrated fresh grassy taste. Its luminescent green colour, caused by floating fibres that are yet to settle, enlivens the palate ready for the explosion of pepper at the end. This is definitely worth getting out of bed for! A word of warning, we never have enough of the early oil and we are generally one of the first retailers of olive oil in Britain to receive it. So I would recommend you come in or order soon to avoid missing your chance to try it. Your salads will never be the same again. A simple drizzle of this oil, with possibly a little cracked salt over the top, and you will have released a little magic. Early oil, being strong in flavour if best for using with equally strong flavoured dishes, rocket and watercress salads, bruchetta or salamis. Pair with our stronger flavoured fruit vinegars, such Bramble, Raspberry or Redcurrant for a really explosive dressing. Delicious! ...less

Bottle: Sfera
Capacity: 2000ml
Height: (est) 195mm
Bottle Price: £8.50
Filled Price: £76.50
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