We are trying something new this time around. Â You are going to get 2 reviews. Â One from the Alchemist at large, the other from Noah, who has taken a shine to the bean and who roasts the beans day in day out.
The old powerhouse is back. It has generally gained the reputation as an immensely complex cocoa bean with a huge potential. On the other hand, if you do not prep it correctly (which I fully plan to help you do, prep it correctly that is) the finished chocolate has a tendency to simply rip the tongue out of your mouth, beat you around the head and shoulders with it, turn around and walk out of the room. Did I mention powerhouse? Now, if I have not scared you away (which of course is never my intent), then you will find this year is another great year for Madagascar.
Alchemist
I found bright and vibrant golden raspberries in the nose. Â Chocolate is more of an afterthought.
The flavor starts of briskly with raspberry and chocolate, with the expected pronounced acidity. Â There is not a lot of bitterness nor astringency although neither are wholly absent. Â Both the bitterness and astringency are that of slightly over extracted black tea. Â In many ways I suspect they are overshadowed by the acidity. Â Likewise, due to the marked brightness, the perception of sweetness is not very high but what is there is clean and crisp.
I didn’t taste any appreciable nuttiness nor deeper notes.  This is not a balanced chocolate but neither are IPAs and sour beers and they both have a huge following.  This chocolate is made for those lovers of brightness and adventure.  Noah certainly liked it. Â
With the solid chocolate and acidity it makes a really incredible milk chocolate.  I suggest you try it both dark and milk and see what you like.  And if you want to get really daring, roast this lighter by only going to 250 F EOR or so.  If that is your jam, you are likely to find tart lemonade, cherry sour kriek and NW IPA all mixed together.  It isn’t my idea of a good time but you do you. Just make sure you have a solid 4 minutes in the finishing phase to mitigate astringency.
Noah:
A sturdy, bright, complex chocolate.
The main flavor component is Chocolate. With its own subtleties to be sure, but nothing else in the flavor distracts from it. A little earthy, in the sense that a dusting of cocoa powder gives you. Darker and roastier like the crispy parts of a brownie, and with soy sauce umami adding depth of flavor. A hint of anise, both in flavor and in the aroma during roasting.
It is big and bright as usual, but the transition to the tang of fruit is smooth, and tang is met with corresponding sweet. I went looking for what fruit it might be, and thought the tart/sweet balance of raspberry was about right, but didn't taste the flavor of raspberry itself. The sweetness is walnut sweet, with the same pleasing astringency that holds the flavors in your mouth.
Overall I had no trouble tasting, and tasting, and tasting some more. Makes a dark chocolate that you will love to savor bit by bit.