2010 Australian National EVOO Award Winners
admin | October 16, 2010The Australian Olive Association National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Show is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious olive oil show.
Here are the 2010 gold medal and/or best of class winners with their acidities, polyphenol levels (equating to bitterness and pungency) – and my general comments as head judge.
Class 1: Single Estate > 200L 100+ oils
Gold and best of class 1: Macaw Creek (Riverton, South Australia) Variety Picual. FFA=0.1% Polyphenols=310mg/kg (high medium to low robust style). Class 1 is for single estate oils and makes up over half the exhibits of the show. So winning best of class amongst over 100 oils is a significant achievement. Long term exhibitor with lots of minor awards. Fabulous oil this time around. Fantastic effort and a win for perseverence. Presumably a small volume available.
Coralee Olives Beerenberg blend (Coonalpyn South Australia). Has previously won major awards at Royal Adelaide. First national award for this producer. Medium volume.
Wooloomooloo Olives (Mudgee, NSW) Picual. FFA=0.1% and polyphenols=80mg/kg (mild style). The most awarded EVOO in Australia this year by far! Very gentle in style but complex and fresh. Gold medal at Royal Sydney, Royal Canberra and now the National. The same producer/variety has also won multiple awards in 2009 and 2008, Availability limited, but presumably not impossible to obtain.
Big River Olives (South Australia), Koroneiki/Coratina blend. FFA=0.1% polyphenols=190 (mild to medium style). A typical riper style from this producer. Who says you can’t blend varieties from different countries? Nice chemistry for a riper style of oil. Availability unknown but presumably reasonably available.
Merri Merri Olive Estate (Victoria), Frantoio. FFA=0.1%. Polyphenols=310 (high medium to low robust style). Cool climate Frantoio is a delight. This one is no exception. Availability unknown, but presumably pretty limited.
Paringa Ridge Leontyna (Mornington Peninsula, Victoria). FFA=0.1% Polyphenols=110 (mild style). Lots of rain just prior to harvest meant a softer than usual oil from this producer. But the low acidity suggests lots of care taken with the fruit. The producer was also just awarded the 2010 AOA National Grove of the Year for its meticulous care of its grove and its track record on innovation. Availability presumably limited.
Class 2: Multi-Estate Grown
Forth Valley Olives Frantoio/Manzanillo/Verdale blend. FFA=0.1% Polyphenols=400 (Robust style). A big robust oil. A standout in this class. Availability unknown, but presumably limited.
Class 3: Multi Estate >5,000 litres.
Cobram Estate Fresh and Fruity. High Silver but Best of Class. FFA=0.1% and polyphenols=150 (mild to medium style). An Australian supermarket oil with an FFA equivalent to other best of class in this show. Incidentally this oil was awarded golds at Royal Sydney and Royal Canberra in 2010. Freely available.
Class 4: Non-packaged.
Coralee Olives Picual, FFA=0.1% polyphenols=210 (medium style). High silver but best of class. This class represents oils that are will be sold on to others in the trade, and most likely will make up part of a supermarket blend. With an acidity around 1/5th to 1/7th of your typical EU supermarket oil – go figure! Unavailable commercially.
Class 5: Micro Volume <200L
Gooramadda Olives (NE Victoria) UC13A6/Hardies Mammoth, FFA=0.4%, Polyphenols=265 (medium style). Made with a press using stainless steel “mats”. But the producer just fires it up for their own oils. Interesting ripe oil with a higher than average acidity. Second time winner of the Australian National Champion Oil of Show. Availability – Very limited.
Mount Roland View (UC13A6) FFA=0.1% polyphenol=140 (mild style). Don’t know much about this one. Availability – Very limited.
Elmise Estate Bay Blend (Franklin, Tasmania) FFA=0.1%, Polyphenol=140 (mild style). Classic malty aromas and flavours from Tasmania. So for those who think an interesting flavour is a defect well think again. The chemistry is great suggesting everything is done right so terroir and individuality should be applauded. Availability – Very limited.
Gooramadda Olives (NE Victoria) UC13A6 FFA=0.2%, Polyphenols=330 (robust style) A greener oil showing great freshness. Availability – Very limited.
Goddard Frantoio (Tasmania) FFA=0.1%, polyphenols=230 (medium style). Another Tasmanian! Very classy oil that is medio in style. Classic grassy flavours but with that classic Tasmanian forest floor character that I’ve seen no where else in the world. Availability – Very limited.