Each November since 1995, we've tasted the new Tuscan oils fresh from the mill. We'll get right to the point: the best 2020s could be the finest Tuscan olive oils made since the late 1990s. Only two years out of the past twenty (2008 and 2015) even belong in the same conversation with the 2020 oils. But for deep color, stunning aromatics and incredible richness, there may be no contest.

When we launched the Tuscan olive oil part of our business in 1995,  the timing couldn't have been better. The cool Tuscan summers of the mid-'90s were perfect for intensely green, awesomely aromatic oil. And that's just what we were able to consistently deliver to our customers.

As the weather has changed, and the Tuscan summers have gotten hotter and drier, it's been a much greater challenge for us to find oils of such quality. Thanks to our relationships in the region, as well as our hard work, we have continued to bring our customers the finest range of Tuscan oils in America. But still, we've been waiting for that very special year where the oils reach another level.

Finally we have it. We've tasted nearly 100 different pressings since the first week in November, and in our view this is the finest crop of oils since the 1990s. Other years may have produced a few great oils, but this is a year where not only is the overall level of quality remarkably high, but the very best oils have few peers in our experience.

It was also a year that surprised us all. The summer was hot and dry as usual, which didn't portend greatness. On the positive side, the olives didn't turn black, and there were no problems with olive flies. But the olive trees were in desperate need of water and cool temperatures. Fortunately, the weather cooled off dramatically in September, and much-needed rain arrived.

That pattern continued well into November, allowing the olives to remain green, while developing magical aromatics. The only downside was small production, as most oils came in at less than 10% of the weight of the olives, which is the lowest we've seen in 26 years of buying Tuscan oil.