Isole e Olena, Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Isole e Olena, Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Vintage: 2023

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2023IO108F2312 x 50ScrewcapContact Us
Producer

Isole e Olena’s vineyards, like those of Giovanni Manetti at Fontodi, are superbly tended. More than anything, this yields wines of the quality that have kept both these Chianti wineries ahead of the chasing pack for the past three decades.

The name ‘Isole e Olena’ came about in the 1950s when two adjoining estates, ‘Isole’ and ‘Olena’, were purchased by the De Marchi family and combined to form one. The history of both dates back hundreds of years, with the earliest documentation of the village of Olena in the 12th century. In 2022 Isole e Olena was purchased by Christopher Descours, the owner of Charles Heidsieck, Piper-Heidsieck, Rare Champagne, Château la Verrerie and Biondi-Santi. Christopher and the new estate director Emanuele Reolon have a clear vision to build on Paolo De Marchi’s exceptional results, with a restless quest for quality and excellence.

Isole e Olena is in the western part of Chianti Classico, just north of the village of Castellina. Its 45 hectares of vineyard are planted between 350 – 450 metres above sea level, primarily on galestro soil (a kind of rocky, schistous clay). Because the western flank of Chianti is open to breezes from the sea, this is a much cooler part of the zone, resulting in lighter but more scented and elegant wines than many others.

The ‘Cepparello’ is made solely from Sangiovese. It is fragrant with great elegance and balance. The Chianti, a blend of 80% Sangiovese supplemented by Canaiolo and a dash of Syrah, is scented and alluring. The barrel-fermented Chardonnay is outstanding, one of Italy’s best examples of this variety, boasting rich toasted almonds and butter aromas. The Vin Santo, aged for eight years in small barrels called ‘caratelli’, is one of the best produced.

Olive Groves

Isole e Olena's Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced from olives grown at 400-450 metres above sea level with south and south-west exposure. The soil of these 16 hectares of land is composed of limestone-clay soils, a mix of clay and slate and sandstone.

Harvest

The 2023 vintage started with a mild winter which was followed by a fresh and humid spring, with abundant rains between May and the first half of June. This wet weather resulted in a reduced olive production overall, but developed excellent water reserves for the plants. This allowed the olives to reach optimal ripeness despite a dry summer. Overall the 2023 vintage resulted in low quantities of excellent quality olive oils.

Production

The olives were hand picked towards the end of October into the start of November in order to retain the fruit expression and balanced acidity. They were milled the day they were picked and cold pressed in a fast extraction. The oil obtained was slightly filtered and then stored in small stainless steel tanks until bottling.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

Isole e Olena opt for a blend of different varieties for their Extra Virgin Oil, and the result is a rich, complex and aromatic end product. It has fresh flavours of green vegetables and basil, with a pleasant and persistent spice. On the palate, it is full-bodied and with bitter and spicy notes, especially when young.