Impact
Shocking progression. Can Dagoba really achieve this? Moreover, repeat it? If its 59% is a twisting roller coaster, this is a straight out & back - unreal forward restraint, like a seatbelt holding you in as the G-forces try to lurch you thru the windshield on the ride with an extra-fine, fully-dimensional sweet black valentine.
Appearance 3.8 / 5
| Color: | translucent (ghost in the iced-brown machine) |
| Surface: | weather beaten; big whorls |
| Temper: | straddles fence between matte & mirror, semi-gloss & semi-flat |
| Snap: | depleted |
Aroma 8.9 / 10
tropical fruit in the cigar box; smokes up along the break
Mouthfeel 11.2 / 15
| Texture: | swollen w/ micro-granules |
| Melt: | quick & easy |
Flavor 45.4 / 50
cocoa -> black fruit: raisin -> blueberry -> flash bitter -> red & black tropical acid splash (centered on currants/plums) -> small olive turns up a sweet almond trail w/ fennel at the deep back -> dies on a tea-bag
Quality 17.8 / 20
Somewhat unusual fruit colors for a Madagascar, as Dagoba’s a stylistic outlier for the varietal, especially with its darker roasting. But expert control & balance: some acid/some bitter, none intrusive, just a little whistling to welcome to the thrill of so much gentle crush that goes the distance.