Choosing Your Olive Oil

Tasting Notes

Similar to fine wines, an olive oil tasting takes place in a quiet setting, in a booth, using a tinted, rounded glass covered with a watch glass.
Blind oil tasting under competition conditions
Here, we will simply ‘wet the appetite’ of novices and connoisseurs alike.
Olive oil is a condiment, but like any exceptional product, especially one distinguished by a PDO, it deserves to be tasted according to the rules of the art.

All senses are awakened! Tasting requires a certain contemplation. One must settle in a neutral, odorless place and use a small container to decipher the scents and flavors of olive oil.

It is by nose that one distinguishes between the three fruitiness categories: green fruity with notes of cut grass, black fruity with aromas of black olives, and ripe fruity with a floral and sweet nose.
On the palate, simply draw in a little air, as with wine, to discover a rich aromatic palette: green banana, raw artichoke, sweet almond, basil, mint, candied fruit, vanilla, blackcurrant, cocoa, tomato… The most difficult part is putting a name to the sensation.
Then comes the bitterness, the only taste, in the physiological sense of the term, that can be detected in olive oil. This bitterness will be more or less pronounced depending on the olive variety used.
Finally, the peppery sensations may surprise you; these are merely the polyphenols tickling your throat.

The whole must be harmonious, a delight for the taste buds!

Green Fruitiness

Our Classics

Green fruity oil is obtained from olives harvested early, while still green
or just at the beginning of maturity. It is distinguished by great aromatic
freshness and a beautiful intensity on the palate.
• Aromas: cut grass, olive leaf, artichoke, green almond
• Bitterness and pungency present, signs of aromatic richness
• Lively, fresh, and expressive oil
Choose this if you enjoy oils with character, ideal with
raw vegetables, salads, fish, fresh cheeses, or simply
on bread.

Matured Olive

Our Black Olive Oils

Matured olive oil comes from olives harvested at an advanced stage of maturity, then
processed using specific expertise to allow the development
of rounder and softer aromas.

• Aromas: black olive, ripe fruits, cocoa, tapenade
• Very little bitterness and pungency
• Smooth, round, and enveloping oil
Choose this if you enjoy mellow and gourmet oils, perfect
for stews, cooked vegetables, meats, sauces, or
generous Mediterranean cuisine.

Our Aromatic Oils

Simultaneous Crushing

Our aromatic olive oils are produced by simultaneous crushing
: fresh olives are pressed at the same time as natural
ingredients (citrus fruits, herbs, leaves, or spices). This method
allows for joint extraction where the aromas integrate directly
into the oil, right from the mill, without any subsequent additions.
• Fresh olives and natural ingredients crushed together
• Simultaneous crushing at the mill
• Aromas naturally integrated from extraction
• No added flavors, no post-maceration
• Intense, expressive, and authentic oils
Choose this if you enjoy aromatic oils with character, featuring
powerful and natural aromas, capable of transforming a dish
with a simple drizzle.

How to Read a Label

To better understand and select your oil

Choosing an olive oil means learning to recognize its aromas, personality, and quality. This section guides you through the basics of tasting and helps you read a label to understand the origin, production, and characteristics of an oil. This will enable you to make an informed choice and find the oil that will enhance your cooking.

Protected Designation of Origin*

This mention guarantees the geographical origin of the olive oil. It means that the oil is produced within the appellation area, complies with precise characteristics defined by the National Institute of Appellations of Origin (INAO), and that the olives are crushed in a mill located within the appellation area.

Extra Virgin

The mention "extra virgin olive oil" guarantees physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics. On a physicochemical level, the acidity level and peroxide index are respectively below 0.8 and 20. On an organoleptic level, the oil has no defects (rancid, winey, moldy, metallic, musty). Associated with "extra virgin" you will find the phrase "Superior category olive oil obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means": This mandatory mention indicates that the oil is of extra virgin quality. Castelas olive oil is a pure fruit juice. No chemical or refining methods are used during production.

Virgin

The mention "virgin olive oil" indicates an acidity level between 0.8 and 2. Associated with "virgin" you will find the phrase "Olive oil obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means."

Cold extracted, cold extraction

This mention guarantees that the olive oil is extracted at a temperature below 27°C using only mechanical processes.

Store away from heat and light

Olive oil should be stored away from heat and light and, preferably, for a period not exceeding two years. Ensure the bottle or container is tightly sealed, as oil tends to absorb surrounding odors.

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