Impact
Incan warrior strength - nothing but the bean. Less wild than feral – tamed but wholly untrained chocolate ambage (considering there’s very little CQ – i.e., “chocolate flavor” - in this bar).
Appearance 5 / 5
Color: | stunning black-burgundy w/ amber-orange tint |
Surface: | marble smooth |
Temper: | bounce back |
Snap: | button tight; clean, sharp edge |
Aroma 8.4 / 10
beautifully wild yet mild: Peruvian balsam wood cut by coffee, cocoa, & quinoa, plus some light green tang
Mouthfeel 14.6 / 15
Texture: | as expected at 100%, perhaps finer than expected: avocado-territory - uber-thick & unctuous |
Melt: | glorious |
Flavor 42.2 / 50
green ambush -> turns down to the ground for woods & roots -> brief cream relief -> mulberry -> nuts over grilled portobello sirloin, signals rising bitter insurrection... iron strong... raw uncured black olive, rolled in papaya leaf (a backtrack from the opening) -> sours & liquefies to jungle juice... very streamline, constant, lengthy, & more savory than it sounds -> finally interrupted by walnut husk, where things do get rough -> clears balsam – w/ staying power - & remote channel cacáo
Quality 18.7 / 20
Tremendous control & purpose. Could’ve gotten out of hand fast & wreaked havoc but restraints all around provide clear bias unto the bean itself (no added cacáo butter, lecithin, vanilla, sugar, etc.) whose will cuts thru with poise thanks to a combined medium ferment, light roast, & relatively strong conche.