Pugliese oils get little credit on the international oil scene. The region's reputation is that of a producer of affordable bulk oils. But hidden in the shadows of the huge industrial producers are artisans like the Pellegrino family. I visited their farm a couple of years ago, and I keep coming back to their full-flavored extra virgin olive oil again and again. There's a nose tingling grassiness that adds a depth of flavor to food. It's especially good in spicy pasta dishes or any place you want a really robust olive flavor.
The 2019 harvest has a fairly mellow aroma with hints of grass and a vegetal sweetness, like fresh bell pepper. The flavor is strong with a robust green bitterness like radicchio or endive. There is a sharp black pepper spiciness that builds to a long, lingering finish.