SA Olive and Absa instituted the Top 5 competition in 2013 as an extension to the annual SA Olive Awards. The 10 top performers from the SA Olive Awards are eligible to make the Top 5 cut, which is no mean feat when considering that the balance of fruitiness, bitterness and spiciness must all be in harmony. Ten finalists are selected from this pool and narrowed down to the Top 5. The Absa Top 5 olive oils were selected from the ranks of the SA Olive Awards 2015 top achievers by a revered panel of olive oil savants.
The competition allows for South African olive oil producers to showcase their very finest products and encourages the success of our local olive oil industry. South African oils are regularly recognised on a global stage for their quality and distinctiveness, and competitions like the Absa Top 5 play a crucial role in educating local consumers about the industry and its diverse spectrum of superior, world-class products.
2015 ABSA Top 5 Olive Oils
PROFILE OF FINALISTS OF THE ABSA TOP 5 COMPETITION 2015
Kleinood
www.kleinood.com
Kleinood is a small farm of just twelve hectares of land. Ten hectares are devoted to vines while the remaining two are under olive trees. The farm straddles the confluence of the Blaauwklippen and Moordenaarskloof rivers at the foot of the Stellenbosch Mountain.
Oil: De Boerin Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Style: Medium
A blend of selected Italian cultivars: Coratina, Favolosa, Delicata, Leccino and Frantoio give this oil a herby nose of green grass, rocket, green tomatoes and mowed hay. The dominating taste is strong and grassy with hints of artichoke, sorrel and green tomatoes and an enjoyable peppery aftertaste. Lovely green nose, herbacious, tropical flavour. Lovely floral notes.
Mulderbosch Vineyards
www.mulderbosch.co.za
Since its founding in 1989, Mulderbosch Vineyards has widely been accepted as one of South Africa’s foremost wine producers and now their olive oil is receiving also receiving acclaim. Located in the Stellenbosch Hills area about 25 miles from Cape Town, Mulderbosch Vineyards has seen recent changes that include a renovation of its facilities, a move to bring the brand under Terroir Capital’s wing in the U.S. market and the hiring of a new winemaker, Adam Mason, formerly of Klein Constantia.
Oil: Mulderbosch Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Style: Intense
Mint, nutty, fresh, floral bouquet. Very well balanced.
Porterville Olives
www.andanteoliveoil.co.za
Andante Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from olives grown on the Wêreldsgeluk Olive Estate near Porterville in the Western foothills of the Winterhoek mountain range, about 130 km North-East of Cape Town. It is a family-owned and run business, born of a dream to make great olive oil.
Oil: Andante Intenso Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Style: Intense
Aromas of roast tomatoes, green herbs, mint, basil underlying honey. Tastes of lightly steamed cabbage with tingling chilli heat on the back palate. Some bitterness with tannic spinach and a long walnut finish. Complex, balanced and harmonious.
Porterville makes use of a combination of the best organic and scientific farming practices. We use mulches and natural compost to promote micro-organisms and soil health. Pest control is by means of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Pest populations – fortunately a rarity – are monitored and we rely on natural predators rather than chemical controls, which have not been used since 2006. Irrigation is by drippers for optimal water use.
Oil: Andante Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Style: Medium
Aromas of green apple and honeydew melon. Tastes of creamy green bananas with the pepperiness of mustard leaves and bitterness of arugula. Floral notes with sweet apple and green fruits.
Kransfontein Landgoed
am.decauwer@gmail.com
Along the Gou Kou river, Stillbaai on the western side, is the olive producing farm Kransfontein, owned by Altus Joubert. In previous days the land belonged to the famous writer Wilbur Smith.
The farm boasts more or less 10 000 olive trees which include three cultivars which are made into single variety oils. Coratina and Frantoio both received Gold in the SA Olive Association competition and the oil from Mission olives received Silver. Due to terrace farming most of the tree maintenance is done by hand. Kransfontien also presses their own olive oil and all olives are pressed the same day as picked.
Oil: Kransfontein Coratina Olive Oil
Style: Intense
Sweet , floral and cocao on the nose, with green flavours of artichokes, walnut skins and olive leaves.
