Chicago Reviews

Expressive, fruit-forward, intricately sweet. Notes of dried raspberry, lychee, tea rose, panela, cocoa nib in aroma and cup. Juicy, high-toned acidity; syrupy, very buoyant mouthfeel. The finish is long and saturated with red fruit and floral sweetness.

Sweet-toned, richly aromatic. Notes of ripe plum, cherry cordial, hibiscus, molasses and clove. Sweetly tart acidity; full, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. The finish is long with persistent fruit and spice notes.

Deeply sweet, harmoniously layered. Blackberry, dried mango, cocoa powder, vanilla bean, cedar in aroma and cup. Bright, balanced acidity; crisp, velvety body. The finish resonates with notes of blackberry and cocoa powder.

Elegant, gently perfumed. Jasmine, lime zest, white peach, cocoa powder, marjoram in aroma and cup. Bright, refreshing acidity; silky mouthfeel. Sweet lingering finish with citrus and floral undertones.

Lushly aromatic and richly layered. Passionfruit, candied violet, bergamot, cocoa, and raw honey in aroma and cup. Juicy-bright acidity; silky, nectar-like mouthfeel. The finish is long and floral-toned, with fruit and cocoa sweetness persisting deep into the long.

Aromatically mesmerizing. Blackberry, star jasmine, cocoa nib, blood orange, wild honey in aroma and cup. Bright, winey acidity; creamy, viscous mouthfeel. The finish is long and sweetly resonant, carrying the promise of the cup into the long.

High-toned, lushly floral. Red currant, cocoa nib, wisteria, myrrh, pomelo in aroma and cup. Sparkling, balanced, very juicy acidity; taut, satiny mouthfeel. Long, harmonious, integrated and flavor-saturated finish.

Bright, sweet, citrusy. Sweet lime, almond, marjoram, cocoa nib, fresh-cut oak, violet in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned, balanced acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. Citrusy finish with undertones of almond and oak.

Tart-leaning, citrusy. Meyer lemon, pie cherry, baking chocolate, cashew, sassafras in aroma and cup. Tart, citrusy acidity; crisp, velvety mouthfeel. Gently drying, citrus finish with undertones of sweet pine bark.

Sweetly tart, rich-toned. Tamarind, dark chocolate, wine barrel, magnolia, nutmeg in aroma and cup. Crisply sweet, winey acidity; plush, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Long, resonant, flavor-laden finish that fulfills the promise of the cup.

Elegant, cocoa-toned, gently citrusy. Cocoa nib, tangerine, pink peppercorn, agave syrup, bay leaf in aroma and cup. Malic (apple-like acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Cocoa-toned, citrusy finish.

Bright, juicy, nuanced. Delicately fruit-centered, richly sweet. Red plum, lemon verbena, myrrh, cocoa nib, watermelon candy in aroma and cup. Crisp, high-toned acidity; full, satiny mouthfeel. Finish consolidates to notes of cocoa nib and lemon verbena.

Bright, juicy, harmonious. Peach, freesia, pink grapefruit zest, marjoram, cocoa nib in aroma and cup. Balanced, high-toned acidity; crisp, delicate mouthfeel. Finish centers around notes of peach and marjoram.

Bright, balanced, juicy. Meyer lemon, red currant, cocoa nib, thyme, freesia in aroma and cup. Sparkling acidity; crisp, lightly satiny mouthfeel. Very long, flavor-saturated finish.

Gently bright, deep-toned. Concord grape, sandalwood, fudgesicle, cashew, rhododendron in aroma and cup. Delicately bright, balanced acidity; very viscous, satiny mouthfeel. Finish leads with notes of Concord grape and rhododendron with fudgesicle undertones.

Brightly sweet-tart, balanced. Nectarine, almond butter, tangerine, fresh-cut oak, bay leaf in aroma and cup. Sparkling acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. FInish consolidates to notes of nectarine and bay leaf.

Bright, juicy, intensely aromatic. Distinct green apple, kumquat, raw cacao, marjoram, wild honey in aroma and cup. Tart-leaning, citrusy acidity; quite full, satiny-smooth mouthfeel. Crisply tart finish with notes of kumquat and cacao.

Richly sweet, delicately tart. Tamarind, dried mango, cocoa nib, marjoram, cedar in aroma and cup. Briskly sweet, gentle acidity; full, syrupy smooth mouthfeel. Crisp, sweetly tart finish.

Juicy, sweet, fruit-saturated. Mulberry jam, dark chocolate, myrrh, pineapple kefir, black sage in aroma and cup. Sparkling acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. Notes of dark chocolate and mulberry commingle in the resonant finish.

Evaluated as espresso. Co-taster John DiRuocco and Ken both found a sweetly tangy intrigue animating this plush, satiny bodied espresso, and rewarded it with 95s. Ken called it rich pistachio; John favored musky, mango-like tropical fruit. For both tasters, the pistachio/mango notes impressively sweetened and moved forward in three parts milk.