Impact
Evasive & undefined, flashing only tamped & muted glimpses of the beauty & beast within that could be a nice piece of work: the slight promise of a dirty/slutty naughty tryst leaving you sweaty, if not soul satisfying. ‘Oh yeah, baby, that was sick & nasty.’
Appearance 4.4 / 5
antiquated pkging by today’s standards; hard to love plastic wrapper next to the choc (it’s a molecular transfer thing)
antiquated pkging by today’s standards; hard to love plastic wrapper next to the choc (it’s a molecular transfer thing)
| Color: | violet overlays on deep solid umber |
| Surface: | beautifully even high-plate; speckled out back |
| Temper: | oiled shine |
| Snap: | silencer; especially muffled for 80% class |
Aroma 6.7 / 10
direct hit to the head: cocoa dust, dried wood, cork, hay, vanilla roast, & blue cheese... eventually broods coffee; dusty cherries & dried currants on the rubdown
Mouthfeel 11.8 / 15
| Texture: | clumped chutney w/ powdered finish requires a little muscular effort to get to... |
| Melt: | ... languid mouth play - real, old fashioned strip tease… slow, steady, sexy (no soy here = pasties/g-string) |
Flavor 39.1 / 50
no high note air-guitar acrobatics here, just bottom bass riffs off classic Led Zep: strikes chocolate right off -> an autumn earth / stick in the mud... gently rollicking bitterness that hangs around for the remainder in spurts like a formicary of “creeping things” in Leviticus -> oloroso tones of brandied tobacco, leather, & double-roasted espresso for Cuban-style café w/ light plum / coffee butter-cake -> takes on vanilla -> creamed pasta ala Domori but fatter & sweeter -> white lotus... very even tempered... even thru mild walnut passage -> cocoa miasma
Quality 16.3 / 20
No spikes, surges, or slowdowns. Decent bean selection in the blend, precise fermentation/curing, excellent drying & deep roast brings out the symphony that a dark side bar could wear with pride but butter overstates its case & overstays itself, creating diluted vat of flavors.