Blind Assessment: A tribute to dark-roast fruit character. In the nose deep with prune and sweet pipe-tobacco tones. In the cup the fruit comes up dry and pungent before softening and sweetening toward the finish.

Notes: This is a very pleasant cup laced with wintry dry fruit tones, meant to complement the rich foods of the holiday season. The nose is deep with prune and sweet tobacco tones, and the fruit is dry and pungent, softening and sweetening toward the finish. Caffe Appassionato offers its Santa's Choice blend from November through January. Roastmaster Dan Donohue says it is designed "to complement the rich foods of the holiday season."

Who Should Drink It: The holiday factor:If the fruit showed a little more fragrance and lift this coffee would be exceptional. As it is, a very pleasant cup laced with wintery dry fruit tones.