Impact
A fool's complex. Like it's 77% sibling, this too could've gone either way... & does - by taking the proverbial fork in the road in both directions (almost simultaneously). As such, a good bad bar; or a bad good bar. All's fair in chocolate.
Appearance 4 / 5
| Color: | warm sepia |
| Surface: | rash: pinholes, whorls, & more |
| Temper: | lustrous |
| Snap: | lots of pop for a 55; jagged edge |
Aroma 6.8 / 10
if its 77% brother is aromatically challenged, this is nearly apodal (limb-less) until brown spices (incl brown sugar) & black dried fruit valiantly puncture dirty grains & leather back; also, a bit of plastic molecule transfer from mylar inner wrapper (hey guys, spring for the tin foil please)
Mouthfeel 12.3 / 15
| Texture: | medium bodied; soft satin & powder (TBE @ this %) |
| Melt: | subtle |
Flavor 40.7 / 50
very sugar-forward 1st step -> layered chocolate / raisin / more sugar -> stagnant grains base-boarding -> cocoa fudge mix -> tawny port aspect (Madeira) in oak cabinetry -> grape; cardamom + licorice + pepper bite on the tip (S American Shiraz)
Quality 16.1 / 20
Sugar quells much of the surly action found in the 77% & sweetens its black fruits into grape / raisin. Nice 2nd half to the mid-pal as intrusive grain/cardboard undertones are intermittently transmuted (which some will view as 'complex') into soft tannins giving a touch of desiccation. Seed quality is obvious but post-harvest production remains questionable throughout Caoni's line, generating too many unclear/unclean notes. Once these are corrected, this becomes a contender for the bantam weight division.