Exotic Reviews

High-toned, tropical, exquisitely balanced. Orange blossom, cocoa nib, guava, young ginger, cedar in aroma and cup. Juicy-bright yet delicate acidity; silky-smooth mouthfeel. Long, resonant finish that fulfills the promise of the cup.

Complex, richly nuanced. Narcissus, cocoa nib, pear, wild honey, amber in aroma and cup. Invigorating, malic acidity; full, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Very long-lasting, floral-toned, richly sweet finish.

Evaluated as espresso. Savory-sweet with a tart edge. Delicate chocolate and lemon, apricot, fir, savory-edged blackberry in aroma and small cup. In mouthfeel, full though rather dense in texture. Clean, rich, simple finish. In three-parts milk, straightforward, chocolate-toned.

Evaluated as espresso. Sweet grapefruit and orange blossom notes shimmer inside a deeply expressed chocolate in aroma and cup. Velvety mouthfeel. Ken and co-taster John DiRuocco shared parallel descriptors and the same 95-point enthusiasm for this poised, resonantly finishing espresso. Floral-toned chocolate with a continued grapefruit hint graces three parts milk.

Elegantly fruity, tropical leaning. Pineapple, lychee, baking chocolate, pomelo, redwood in aroma and cup. Brightly sweet-tart acidity; crisp, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Fruit-toned finish with hints of baking chocolate.

Quietly balanced, sweet-toned. Green apple, pistachio, cocoa powder, fir, brown sugar in aroma and cup. Briskly sweet acidity; crisp, velvety-smooth mouthfeel. The gently drying finish consolidates to notes of cocoa-toned fir and pistachio.

Lively, aromatically resonant, deeply complex. Cocoa nib, vanilla orchid, tamarind, pistachio, amber in aroma and cup. Rich structure with sweet-tart-savory acidity; lyrically full, viscous body. Harmonious, integrated finish that leads with notes of vanilla orchid, pistachio and cocoa nib.

Deep, rich, sweetly herbaceous. Heavy cream, sweet herb melange, caramel, Meyer lemon, the aroma of oak forest in aroma and cup. Gentle, round acidity; plump mouthfeel. Fades gracefully to bittersweet herb notes.

Sweetly nut-toned. Hazelnut, pink grapefruit zest, date, elm, orange zest in aroma and cup. Sweetly brisk acidity; crisp, lightly satiny mouthfeel. Sweet-toned, nutty finish.

Complex, resonant, sweetly tart. Dark chocolate, candied violet, black currant, fig, pistachio in aroma and cup. Juicy, bright acidity; energetic, silky mouthfeel. Harmonious finish that carries through on the promise of the cup into the long.

Honey-sweet and spice-toned. Baking spices, honey, dark chocolate, lavender, cedar in aroma and cup. Sweet in structure with a balancing tart and savory edge. Very smooth, silky-satiny mouthfeel. Balanced and comprehensive in the finish, alive with all of the notes from the cup.

Tangy-sweet, brisk. Concord grape, lime zest, pistachio, musky rose, sourdough rye in aroma and cup. Briskly bright in structure; full and syrupy in mouthfeel. The finish is crisp, rich and tangy-sour.

Tangy-sweet and richly savory. Cocoa, macadamia, raspberry, fennel, fresh-cut fir in aroma and cup. Deep, savory-tangy in structure; lightly syrupy and lively in mouthfeel. Cocoa and macadamia dominate in the short finish, but a delicate raspberry carries the long.

Caramelly, delicately sweet-savory. Peach, caramel, shiitake, redwood, clover flowers in aroma and cup. Gently brisk and sweet-tart in structure; satiny in mouthfeel. The finish is wispy and delicate: peach and caramel.

Richly fermenty, sweetly whiskey-toned. Bourbon barrel, dark chocolate, orange zest, amber, fir in aroma and cup. Sweet structure with brisk acidity; full, creamy mouthfeel. The gently drying finish is centered around Bourbon barrel notes.

Soaringly high-toned anaerobic, bright, complex, exhilarating. Raspberry, rose, violet, cardamom, passionfruit in aroma and cup. In structure, layered and intriguingly savory-bright. Silky in mouthfeel, nimble and lively on the palate. Flowers carry far into a deep, long finish.

Subtly suave, brightly juicy anaerobic. Rose, strawberry, cocoa, pink lemonade, yogurt in aroma and cup. A juicy floral acidity dominates in structure, deepened by a hint of savory depth. Lightly silky, lively mouthfeel. Strawberry and cocoa give way to flowers in a drying finish.

Exuberant yet coherent anaerobic. Butterscotch, blueberry, cocoa, lilac, candycap mushroom in aroma and cup. Sweet, tart and savory impulses balance in a richly expressive structure. Plush, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Fruit notes consolidate in a long though quiet finish.

: Anaerobic intrigue, gracefully balanced. Delicately tangy/tart, sweetly herb- and cocoa-toned. Clove, cocoa, tangerine zest, honey, orchid in aroma and cup. Lightly juicy and sweetly tart in structure; satiny in mouthfeel. The finish is cocoa-centered yet deeply and subtly nuanced.

Big, round, very sweet anaerobic, intensely floral. Lilac, lavender, strawberry yogurt, roasted macadamia, a hint of musk in aroma and cup. Candy-like sweetness dominates in the structure, balanced by lactic tang and a savory bottom. Buoyantly syrupy mouthfeel. Complex flowers and nut notes dominate in a continuing sweet but savory-edged finish.