State of the Blend 2014

Very complex; big-bodied. Blueberry, ripe lemon, dark chocolate, hints of bourbon whisky and musk in aroma and cup. Round, quietly resonant acidity; syrupy, gently lively mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates but lingers in a rich finish.

Very sweet; deeply complex. Cane sugar, blueberry, lily-like flowers, crisp, almondy roasted cacao nib. Round, gently nuanced acidity; lightly syrupy, lively mouthfeel. The cacao nib rounds to distinct chocolate in a long, flavor-saturated finish.

Deep, complex, big-bodied. Night-blooming flowers, hazelnut, dark chocolate, fresh-cut oak in aroma and cup. Round though rather heavy acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. Chocolate emerges clearly in a deeply sweet, nuanced finish.

Floral-toned; delicately and sweetly bright. Honeysuckle-like flowers, candied citrus zest, rounding caramel and carob in aroma and cup. Tartly sweet, lively acidity; full, syrupy though buoyant mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates in a delicately drying finish.

Softly pungent; delicately complex. Honey, roasted cacao nib, vanilla, cherry- and peach-like fruit in aroma and cup. Smooth, poised acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates but persists in a round, deep, gently drying finish.

Lyric, delicate, yet deep. Apricot, roasted cacao nib, rich flowers (freesia?), almond butter in aroma and cup. Softly brisk acidity; light but very silky mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates in a rich, resonant finish.

Sweet, round, complexly and delicately chocolaty. Milk chocolate, honey, floral-toned vanilla, almond in aroma and cup. Soft, backgrounded acidity; very lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates but persists in a long, resonant finish.

Sweet-toned, rich; delicately complex. Honey, almond, dark chocolate enlivened by floral top notes in aroma and cup. Deep, resonant acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Chocolate and flowers sustain nicely in a gently drying finish.

Richly bright and citrusy. Ripe lime and brown-sugar sweetness dominate in aroma and cup, complicated by vanilla-like flowers and a softening suggestion of cocoa butter. Rich, juicy acidity; syrupy but lively mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates in a simple though gently citrus finish.

Sweetly bright, gently complex. Honey, rose-like flowers, zesty orange, hints of moist pipe tobacco and walnut in aroma and cup. Buoyantly and sweetly tart acidity; silky, lively mouthfeel. Delicately dry, favor-saturated finish.

Bracing and dry. Caramel, roasted cacao nib, rose-like flowers, orange zest in aroma and cup. Cleanly tart acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates around the dry chocolate sensation in a simple but pleasing finish.