Montserrat
by Christian Constant
Impact
A direct hit, loud & clear, simplex... if naked chocolate is what you want, just chocolate is what you get.
Appearance 3.6 / 5
| Color: | orange crush over brown |
| Surface: | manly scuffed & dusted front; backside dimples & pimples |
| Temper: | semi-gloss |
| Snap: | sharp & brittle |
Aroma 7.3 / 10
powerful & straightforward: vanilla malt -> cocoa & dust (de-acidified, almost Dutched) -> trail of tobacco smoke -> vanilla-vetiver; submerged white cherry blossoms; a little musty
Mouthfeel 12.1 / 15
| Texture: | starts dry then lubes well |
| Melt: | right to the point; unobtrusive |
Flavor 46 / 50
chocolate cherry -> cocoa, pure & simple runs the entire length -> vanilla -> minor bittering -> faint olive bitter -> more chocolate reserve in the tank -> winds out mocha
Quality 18.3 / 20
Roasted right to the border’s edge, removing most bitters while leaving behind enough to give reach & shape. Precise proportion control between sugar & cacáo components creating sweet acids, then vanilla-ized just beyond what bean probably calls for. Successfully poaching on Valrhona’s coveted Gran Couva turf - & deservedly so. Overall excellence.