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Etruria Organic Umbrian Olive Oil To talk to Giuseppe Gagnoni is to talk about olives, specifically Umbrian olives; in true Umbrian fashion he concedes nothing to the Tuscans. Portions of Umbria were conquered by the ancient Etruscans and became part of what the Romans called Etruria. Trevi is located between Assisi and Spoleto; it is a small town perched on a pyramid of a hill surrounded by miles and miles of olive groves. This is where Giuseppe Cagnoni grows his olives and where five generations of his family have made exceptional oil. University researchers have dated the rootstock for some of his trees back 1,000 years before Christ. It seems the olives where there before the Etruscans. The main olive variety planted on the Cagnoni property is Moraiolo, a specialty of Umbria. However, Moraiolo is not self-pollinating and so the property is also planted with small amounts of Frantoio and Leccino. Very little of the wonderful Moraiolo is grown in Tuscany while Leccino and Frantoio are Tuscan staples. Their groves are planted on the rugged hillside in parcels that are from 380 meters to 600 meters above sea level. Everything is done organically by hand on the farm. This yields an oil that is fruity on the nose - notes of ripe olive with hints of green olive and artichoke - and mild, softly floral and buttery on the palate. It exudes the flavor of ripe olive and has a clean finish with a moderate amount of pepper. Tis oil accentuates food, building flavor rather than intensifying it and it is an excellent everyday oil, performing well in the kitchen and at the table. |
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Available from Amazon Price: $25.10 Updated on 11-28-2008.  |