Repubblica Dominicana
by C-AMARO
Impact
Nut'n much accomplished in this burnt cluster-fudge.
A conflagration in a testament to things must be looking up, the end is near... it's Armeggedon times.
Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience. - Eleanor Hibbert
REDUX REVIEW -- below are segments of C-AMARO's Repubblica Dominicana, initially released in 2011, followed by a refresher in 2015. The rating reflects the upgraded batch.
Marco Colzani learned the hard way -- thru some tough lessons -- & now in this post-Apocalyptic update on his Repubblica Dominicana, he stands near the summit, having slain the beasts into that bottomless pit of that earlier bar.
Exceedingly well done, even heroic.
A conflagration in a testament to things must be looking up, the end is near... it's Armeggedon times.
REDUX REVIEW -- below are segments of C-AMARO's Repubblica Dominicana, initially released in 2011, followed by a refresher in 2015. The rating reflects the upgraded batch.
Marco Colzani learned the hard way -- thru some tough lessons -- & now in this post-Apocalyptic update on his Repubblica Dominicana, he stands near the summit, having slain the beasts into that bottomless pit of that earlier bar.
Exceedingly well done, even heroic.
Appearance 4.2 / 5
| Color: | on the edge of a blackened brown |
| Surface: | clean print |
| Temper: | formica |
| Snap: | right on the mark -- sharp & clear |
Aroma 7.6 / 10
2011
dried dung among the grasses under some nut trees used for the wood-burning stove that toasted these beans streaked with cigarette burns from so many butts being put out & thrown in the fire
2015
as though still in seed / bean form
dried dung among the grasses under some nut trees used for the wood-burning stove that toasted these beans streaked with cigarette burns from so many butts being put out & thrown in the fire
2015
as though still in seed / bean form
Mouthfeel 12.8 / 15
| Texture: | taut upon yielding |
| Melt: | releases in dribs 'n drabs |
Flavor 46.2 / 50
2011
all that firewood in the Aromatics cooks up brownie batter, along with charcoal -> chocolate 'n cigarette ash -> soot -> burnt Oreo™ cookie dough -> smoked pine nut (the saving grace note) -> Nestlé's Quik™ down the drain
2015
so sweet, almost too sweet, white sweet (sugar - yet it's only a quarter of the total content) -> sapote -> fresh cigar leaf & green tea -> cocoa-nutmeg -> juices up apricot-mango, again, so sweet -> dried bilberry resin
all that firewood in the Aromatics cooks up brownie batter, along with charcoal -> chocolate 'n cigarette ash -> soot -> burnt Oreo™ cookie dough -> smoked pine nut (the saving grace note) -> Nestlé's Quik™ down the drain
2015
so sweet, almost too sweet, white sweet (sugar - yet it's only a quarter of the total content) -> sapote -> fresh cigar leaf & green tea -> cocoa-nutmeg -> juices up apricot-mango, again, so sweet -> dried bilberry resin
Quality 18.5 / 20
2011
The wrapper pre-conditions the consumer with tasting notes that read, "Fresh & pleasing acidity with aromas of berries" which many Dominicans deliver with gusto & then some. This offers none in the actual flavor.
Instead, C-AMARO imposes a maker's mark with a self-same roast on this & every origin in its portfolio: robust. Basically Coppeneur, the early days... when that German house operated in Pralus' dark shadow.
Its entire line piles up an exposition on roasting by keeping one fixed constant -- high heat -- while varying the sugar level, seemingly irrespective of seed type or origin.
For some origins that approach works wonders (C-AMARO's Ecuador for example); for others it proves less successful (Trinidad for instance).
With such a scorched earth policy, this bar could hail from anywhere... bulk Brazil, deforested Ivory Coast, smoky Java... just play spin the globe. Hell, even from Mars.
Tongue-crushing, without any notable fine-flavor note; a stunning revelation considering a) D.R. chocolate can occasionally be over-satuarated with them, & b) this bar is refined in a stone-mill for less than 7 hours then left unconched.
2015
The difference between this & that above = night & day, good & evil, chocolate & compost. All the parameters covered… & well so.
As reported with his São Tomé 78%, Marco Colzani turned the corner of his craft a couple years ago. This re-confirms it. He now inhabits one of the loftier slots among accomplished barsmiths around the world.
ING: cocoa mass, sugar
Reviewed November 21, 2011
Revised June 24, 2015
The wrapper pre-conditions the consumer with tasting notes that read, "Fresh & pleasing acidity with aromas of berries" which many Dominicans deliver with gusto & then some. This offers none in the actual flavor.
Instead, C-AMARO imposes a maker's mark with a self-same roast on this & every origin in its portfolio: robust. Basically Coppeneur, the early days... when that German house operated in Pralus' dark shadow.
Its entire line piles up an exposition on roasting by keeping one fixed constant -- high heat -- while varying the sugar level, seemingly irrespective of seed type or origin.
For some origins that approach works wonders (C-AMARO's Ecuador for example); for others it proves less successful (Trinidad for instance).
With such a scorched earth policy, this bar could hail from anywhere... bulk Brazil, deforested Ivory Coast, smoky Java... just play spin the globe. Hell, even from Mars.
Tongue-crushing, without any notable fine-flavor note; a stunning revelation considering a) D.R. chocolate can occasionally be over-satuarated with them, & b) this bar is refined in a stone-mill for less than 7 hours then left unconched.
2015
The difference between this & that above = night & day, good & evil, chocolate & compost. All the parameters covered… & well so.
As reported with his São Tomé 78%, Marco Colzani turned the corner of his craft a couple years ago. This re-confirms it. He now inhabits one of the loftier slots among accomplished barsmiths around the world.
ING: cocoa mass, sugar
Reviewed November 21, 2011
Revised June 24, 2015