Washed/Wet Reviews

Evaluated as espresso. This was Ken’s favorite in the tasting; he had it at 96 with a 10 for aroma. Co-taster John DiRuocco was a bit less enthusiastic at 94. The difference may have been their reading of the striking floral herb notes. Ken experienced them as exhilarating sweet lavender while John read them as a pleasant but drier eucalyptus. But both overall admired this sweetly citrusy, walnut-toned, brightly chocolaty espresso whose character resonates through the finish and retains character impressively in three parts milk.

Evaluated as espresso. Ken intensely admired this classic washed profile for its round brightness, plum-toned fruit, rose-toned flowers, and chocolaty and cedary balance, rating it 95. For co-taster John DiRuocco, the profile was pleasing but one-dimensional, though he rewarded the smooth mouthfeel, citrusy brightness and clean balance with a 92. Ken found the floral chocolate and cedary base particularly impressive in three parts milk.

Floral-toned, super-sweet. Wisteria, cocoa nib, rambutan, black sage, salted caramel in aroma and cup. Malic (apple-like) acidity; plush, viscous mouthfeel. Concentrated finish that carries through on the promise of the cup.

Evaluated as espresso. Nuanced, multi-layered, high-toned. Bergamot, strawberry guava, cocoa nib, almond butter, freesia in aroma and small cup. Plush, syrupy mouthfeel; long, satiating finish. In three parts milk, notes of freesia and cocoa nib are amplified, with undertones of strawberry guava, almond and bergamot.

Bright, balanced, richly sweet. Dark chocolate, narcissus, Meyer lemon, thyme, apricot in aroma and cup. Juicy-bright acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. Dark chocolate is the throughline in the satisfying finish.

Evaluated as espresso. Rich-toned, deeply sweet-savory. Black currant, pomegranate, hop flowers, dark chocolate, magnolia, cedar in aroma and small cup. Crisp, lightly satiny mouthfeel; intense, concentrated finish rife with notes of black currant, magnolia and dark chocolate. In cappuccino format, dark chocolate notes are amplified, as are magnolia and black currant.

Brightly sweet, rich-toned. Red currant, agave syrup, lemon verbena, dark chocolate, cedar in aroma and cup. Juicy, lively acidity; crisp, lightly satiny mouthfeel. Sweetly herbaceous finish supported by notes of dark chocolate and cedar.

Evaluated as espresso. Rich, deep, sweetly nutty. Hazelnut butter, tamarind, jasmine, dark chocolate, cedar in aroma and small cup. Crisp, velvety-smooth mouthfeel; nutty, chocolaty finish. In cappuccino format, Nutella-like in its marriage of chocolate and hazelnut notes.

Evaluated as espresso. Richly aromatic, brightly sweet-tart. Dark chocolate, black cherry, tamarind, cedar, finger lime in aroma and small cup. Full, creamy mouthfeel; richly chocolaty, tart-leaning finish. In cappuccino format, dark chocolate and black cherry notes carry the profile, with support from finger lime and cedar.

Brightly sweet, gently tart. Cocoa nib, pink peppercorn, freesia, apricot, almond in aroma and cup. Juicy, vibrant acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. Notes of pink peppercorn and freesia are supported by cocoa nib in the long finish.

Deeply sweet-savory. Mulberry, cocoa nib, thyme, cedar, agave syrup in aroma and cup. Sweet-tart acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. Sweetly herbaceous finish supported by cocoa nib and mulberry.

Delicately high-toned. Nectarine, honey, narcissus, cocoa nib, tangerine zest in aroma and cup. Gently bright, juicy acidity; crisp, silky mouthfeel. Finish consolidates to notes of cocoa nib and nectarine.

Deep-toned, richly sweet. Dark chocolate, clove, apricot, caramel, cedar in aroma and cup. Bright, balanced acidity; plush, satiny mouthfeel. Chocolaty, spice-toned finish.

Cocoa-toned, sweetly herbaceous. Cocoa nib, nectarine, lemon verbena, agave syrup, cedar in aroma and cup. Balanced, juicy acidity; silky-smooth mouthfeel. Citrusy finish supported by cocoa nib and cedar.

Delicately sweet-tart, fruit-toned. Pluot, pomelo, pink peppercorn, cocoa nib, freesia in aroma and cup. Sweetly bright with citrusy acidity; very satiny, buoyant mouthfeel. Finish centers around notes of cocoa nib and pomelo.

Richly sweet, balanced, deep. Dark chocolate, yellow plum, agave syrup, lemon verbena, amber in aroma and cup. Delicately bright acidity; full, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Flavor-saturated finish centers around notes of dark chocolate and amber.

Evaluated as espresso. Richly chocolaty, floral-toned. Chocolate fudge, pomegranate, narcissus, tangerine zest, gently scorched cedar in aroma and small cup. Tannic, syrupy mouthfeel; crisply chocolaty finish. In cappuccino format, both dark chocolate and narcissus are amplified, backed by tart pomegranate.

Complex, multi-layered, deep-toned. Red currant, cocoa nib, tangerine, fresh-cut oak, marjoram in aroma and cup. Bright, juicy structure with phosphoric (cola-like) acidity; crisp, syrupy mouthfeel. Resonant finish centered around notes of red currant and cocoa nib.

Evaluated as espresso. Crisply chocolaty, deeply sweet. Dark chocolate, rhododendron, pie cherry, lemon-thyme, fresh-cut oak in aroma and small cup. Very full, creamy-smooth mouthfeel; chocolaty, sweetly herbaceous finish. In cappuccino format, dark chocolate and rhododendron notes ramp up, while tart fruit and sweet herbs take a supporting role.

Berry-toned, floral. Blackberry, narcissus, cocoa nib, lemon balm, cedar in aroma and cup. Sweetly tart acidity; plush, creamy mouthfeel. Finish consolidates to notes of lemon balm and narcissus with undertones of cedar.