Spedalotto 100% Tonda Iblea Sicilian Olive Oil

Nuovo - 2024 Harvest

500 ml bottle - Chiaramonte Gulfi, Sicily

2024 Tasting Notes:

To the nose, green grassy, wonderfully pleasant just jumps out of the bottle. 

To the eye, a beautiful, dark yellow green with dark accents, black accents, dark green accents! Like it is alive! 

To the tongue, a tickle, and then the vapor moves to the back of the throat and you know it’s gonna have some bite. 

A lot of notes, the oil dissipates quickly off the tongue climbing into a vapor like all the oil this year. 

It is very delicate, and it appears to be complex. 

To the sip, it’s like there’s two layers to this oil. One an oil and two a vapor. Together all at once it floats around in your mouth taking its time. And then when it gets to the back of the throat, it’s a gentle cough, one you cannot resist.

It coats your lips nicely. You savor all the flavor and smacking your lips to enjoy all the flavor. 

The bitterness on the edge of the tongue is very mild this year. I quite like it this way because the oil has so much personality. The depth, the flavor, with lots of punch yet not too peppery. 

What an absolutely enjoyable oil!

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The first whiff and it smells just like you want it to! The richness of olives with a hint of tang. Pour a little into a snifter, swirl it around and draw in the aroma! Wow! Lovely!

There really is nothing like the oil that’s pressed right after the annual olive harvest.

It’s the blend of olives in varying states of ripeness, in this case Tonda Iblea olives from a winery estate in Sicily.

The first sip of oil off a spoon is full of rich, buttery, olive flavor. You’ll notice hints of green tomatoes and artichoke, which give it a lightly bitter edge. It will tickle and kick the back of your throat with light, peppery notes that are vibrant but never overly aggressive.

Savor it with a swirl in your mouth and enjoy the fresh grassiness. Be surprised at the lack of an oily slick.

It’s so refreshing that you look forward to another spoonful as your mind travels to how perfectly wonderful this would be on a simple plate of spaghetti! Add a few capers and Parmigiano-Reggiano to dress it up if you must. The oil is perfection for a simple meal. I could eat this combination for days and never get bored.

If you have a fresh loaf of ciabatta, sprinkle a slice or a hunk with large flakes of salt, like Maldon, and drizzle heavily with Olio Nuovo. You’ll be surprised how heavenly something so simple can be.

This is the oil that will start the holiday season well!