Chocolat Bonnat Chuao 75% Dark Chocolate

The Dark Chocolate Blog continues their run of Chuao reviews with a tasting of Bonnat's offering:

Manufacturer: Chocolat Bonnat

Cocoa Content: 75%

Location: Venezuela

Manufacturer Website

Rating: A-

Today we are tasting Bonnat's take on the legendary Chuao chocolate. The Bonnat Chuao bar is deep brown with ruby and purple highlights. The nose has woody and nutty notes along with some espresso.

The palate first finds nutty notes, followed by a building acidity. There is some juiciness here with a faint orange peel/citrus note. There is a rich chocolate flavor. Espresso, oak, vanilla and mint all highlight the chocolate flavor. Chewing the Chocolat Bonnat Chuao brings forward notes of wood, nuts, earth, cinnamon and a rich chocolate note that is reminiscent of pudding or mousse. The Bonnat Chuao has a smooth melt with some cooling sensation and a bit of a fudgy texture. The finish is complex with rich chocolate, bitter espresso, nuts, orange peel and sweet spice aromatics.

While the Bonnat Chuao is a great chocolate bar, I did find the flavors to be a bit understated. With that caveat, the construction and melt are absolutely flawless, and the "chocolatiness" is outstanding. This is probably the most accessible Chuao I've tried. If you're looking to dip your toes in ultra-premium dark chocolate, this is a good place to start.

Pralus Chuao Dark Chocolate

The Dark Chocolate Blog reviews yet another bar made from the legendary Chuao cacao bean. Here is Pralus's interpretation:

Manufacturer: Pralus

Cocoa Content: 75%

Location: Venezuela

Manufacturer Website

Rating: A+

Today we turn to Pralus for their interpretation of the legendary Chuao bean. Right from the beginning it is clear that this is something special as the Chuao bar is packaged in a mini-box as opposed to the usual paper and foil packaging. The bar is brown with plenty of brick-red highlights. The nose detects rich, earthy chocolate with a touch of mint.

On the palate, the classic Pralus roast notes are unmistakeable. There is a lively acidity here with lemon notes. Earthiness is pronounced, in particular a big tobacco note. There is a bite of bitter espresso that fades into waves of alternating acidity and earthiness. Behind all the layers there is a rich chocolate background. Also here are some smoke and wood (mesquite in particular). Chewing the Pralus Chuao brings forward rich chocolate, oak, walnuts and lemon zest. The melt is smooth and creamy, with some astringency at the end. The finish is long and evolving. Wood smoke, citrus and smoky espresso start out, then some nuttiness starts to peek through, and oaky tannins start to show up after a long fade.

Pralus has taken an exceptional bean and produced an equally exceptional chocolate with their interpretation of the Chuao. The end result is amazingly complex, yet the rich chocolate flavor never gets lost. This isn't as heavily roasted as some of their other offerings, but the flavor is unmistakably Pralus. The Pralus roast style is a perfect match for the earthiness in this chocolate, but the fruit notes are still able to shine through. This chocolate is about as good as it gets.

Domori Chuao Dark Chocolate

Today, The Dark Chocolate Blog tastes Domori's take on the legendary Chuao:

Manufacturer: Domori

Cocoa Content: 70%

Location: Venezuela

Manufacturer Website

Rating: A

Today I have the pleasure of tasting Domori's Chuao dark chocolate bar. Legend has it that the cocoa from the Chuao region was once reserved solely for kings. It's not hard to see why. Domori's Chuao bar looks to be an equal mix of clay-red and light brown in color. The nose has rich chocolate aromas with honey and caramel.

On the palate the initial impression is deep chocolate with strawberry jam. There are highlights of almond aromatics here. Along with the strawberry jam, a fruit note of gooseberries is here as well. Complex sweet notes of honey and caramel are notable, along with coffee, mint and a faint butterscotch note. Chewing the Domori Chuao brings forward notes of almond extract, raspberries, pomegranate and caramel. The bar melts with a superb thick, coating mouthfeel. The finish has butterscotch, caramel and jammy notes all fading in harmony.

Domori has once again impressed me with their take on the legendary Chuao cacao. The end result is wonderfully complex, but unmistakably Domori. The finish and complex caramel and honey undertones are reminiscent of a milk chocolate, while the jamminess is signature Domori. This is great stuff and well worth searching out if you don't have easy access to it in your local area.

Patric Rio Caribe Superior 70% Dark Chocolate

The Dark Chocolate Blog reviews another great bar from Patric Chocolates:

Manufacturer: Patric
Cocoa Content: 70%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Today we are tasting Patric's Rio Caribe Superior dark chocolate bar. This is a single-source bar made from cacao produced near Rio Caribe, Venezuela, a town referred to as "City of the Masters of Cacao". The bar is mahogany in color with orange and red highlights. The nose detects cocoa, espresso and dried fruit.

There is a rich chocolate note up front on the palate. Fruity acidity then builds. There are notes of stone fruit, with a very distinct cherry flavor which goes between bing and maraschinos, along with a bit of nectarine. Nutty notes of walnut and almonds are here along with pistachio. There is a sweet, latte-like creaminess as well. Chewing the Rio Caribe Superior leads to almonds, cherries and leather. The mouthfeel is smooth, thick and creamy. The sweet creaminess carries into the finish and leaves me with the impression of a pistachio sundae covered with chocolate and cherry syrup and sprinkled with nuts.

Color me impressed with the Patric Rio Caribe bar. There is a great, distinct cherry note here that plays well with the rich chocolate, as well as the supporting notes of sweetened coffee and nuts. The construction is perfect as well. This is really a fantastic chocolate that I highly recommend.

Domori Puertomar Dark Chocolate

The Dark Chocolate Blog reviews the award-winning Domori Puertomar:

Manufacturer: Domori
Cocoa Content: 75%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

Today's tasting is the award-winning Domori Puertomar. The Puertomar is part of the same Criollo line as Domori's Puertofino and Porcelana. The bar is deep mahogany in color with purple highlights. The nose detects a deep chocolate aroma with cherry jam.

The immediate impression on the palate is rich chocolate with Domori's typical jamminess. Distinct notes of bread and caramel are here. There is a moderate level of acidity but lots of fruitiness. Red raspberries, pomegranate, Rainier cherries and orange are all here. There is a notable bitter espresso component, but the bitter kick is somewhat mitigated by all the fruitiness. The bitterness does seem to fade in and out in waves, and combines with the fruit to leave an impression of hops. Chewing the Puertomar opens up sweet cherries, mint and tobacco. The mouthfeel is smooth with a slight cooling sensation. The finish is jammy with cherries and shortbread cookies.

The Puertomar is instantly recognizable as Domori with the big fruitiness and jammy flavor. I find the overall flavor to be similar to their Porcelana, but the fruit tends to be a bit less "in your face". There are some big jam/fruit notes here, but the great thing is that the chocolate flavor never gets lost. Another classic from Domori here.

Valrhona Palmira 2009 Dark Chocolate Bar

The Dark Chocolate Blog takes on vintage chocolate with a tasting of the 2009 Valrhona Palmira:

Manufacturer: Valrhona
Cocoa Content: 64%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is the 2009 vintage of the Valrhona Palmira. The Palmira Estates where these criollo beans are grown is located near Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, the home of some of the world’s finest cacao. The Palmira is an orange-mahogany in color. The nose is on the lighter side with some aromas of earthy chocolate.

The first impression on the palate is sweet chocolate with herbal (mint in particular) and earthy notes. Acidity slowly builds, along with nuttiness and roasted flavors. Acidity leads to notes of citrus and sour cherries. There are roasted notes of roast cashews and medium-roast coffee along with some notable earthiness. Chewing the Palmira opens up cherries, leather and earth notes. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with some cooling sensation. The finish has coffee, cherry pie, mint and nuts.

I have some mixed feelings about the Valrhona Palmira. On one hand, there is a wealth of complexity in this chocolate bar. But on the other hand, there is a notable lack of rich chocolate flavor. It may well be that I am experiencing this chocolate past its prime as this is the 2009 vintage. Still, this chocolate does show a lot of promise for vintaged single-origin chocolate. I'll be curious to see how more recent vintages compare to this one.

El Rey Gran Saman 70% Dark Chocolate

Today The Dark Chocolate Blog reviews the Gran Saman from Venezuelan chocolate maker El Rey.

Manufacturer: Chocolates El Rey
Cocoa Content: 70%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: C+

Today's chocolate tasting is the Gran Saman from Venezuela's El Rey. The Gran Saman bar is deep mahogany in color with reddish-orange highlights. The palate has nutty notes of peanuts and walnuts. There is very little acidity of note, but some faint notes of banana and mango are present. Mint, oak and vanilla flavors are here as well. There is a note of roasted coffee, but it is way in the background. Chewing the Gran Saman brings forward notes of cedar, mint and some faint strawberries. The consistency is quite gritty and doesn't really smooth out as it melts. The finish has nutty notes and hot cocoa.

I must admit that I was quite disappointed with the El Rey Gran Saman dark chocolate bar. The construction seems rather poor with an overall gritty, nearly chalky, consistency. The flavor seemed rather bland as there was little in the way of either acidity or roasted flavors to excite the palate. With so many great chocolates being made with Venezuelan cacao, I had some high expectations for this bar, but this was a big miss for me.

Domori Porcelana 70% Dark Chocolate

Today, The Dark Chocolate Blog tastes the renowned Domori Porcelana dark chocolate:

Manufacturer: Domori
Cocoa Content: 70%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

Today we taste the Domori Porcelana 70% dark chocolate bar. The Porcelana cacao is one of the most sought after beans in the world, and Domori's Porcelana bar is regarded by many as the definitive interpretation of this cacao. The bar itself is on the lighter side in color; a light mahogany with ruby highlights.

On the palate the Domori Porcelana has a fruity chocolate richness. Roast notes akin to French/Italian roast coffee sit in the background. There is a lively acidity to this chocolate. The main fruity note is that of raspberries/raspberry preserves. There is also a hint of some lemonade citrus notes. Bread (white toast specifically) is also notable here. Also present are notes of salt, peanut butter and a light coffee-bitterness in the background. Chewing the Domori Porcelana brings forward notes of raspberries, oak and toast. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy with a slight cooling sensation. The finish has toast and jam with espresso notes.

Domori really captures the unique flavor of the Porcelana cacao in this dark chocolate bar. There is a remarkable flavor of raspberry preserves on toast that really stands out. There is a great jammy fruit character here and some interesting "doughiness". The Domori Porcelana is a great, one-of-a-kind chocolate that I highly recommend to everyone.

Chocovic Ocumare 71% Dark Chocolate

From the cacao plantations of Venezuela via Barcelona, The Dark Chocolate Blog brings you the Chocovic Ocumare 71% dark chocolate bar. Enjoy!

Manufacturer: Chocovic
Cocoa Content: 71%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's chocolate tasting is from Spanish chocolate maker Chocovic. Up for review today is their Ocumare 71% dark chocolate bar. The Chocovic Ocumare is deep brown in color with a purplish-red tint.

The first impression on the palate is a nutty, woody chocolate note. Rich chocolate flavor builds over background bitter notes. There are notes of dried fruit, namely raisins and prunes. Fragrant wood notes of hickory and cedar are distinct here, along with some spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is a low-to-moderate amount of acidity, but it is just enough to work well with the flavor profile of this chocolate. Chewing the Chocovic Ocumare opens up notes of dried berries, tobacco and leather. The bar melts to a smooth, thick and creamy mouthfeel, with just a slight cooling sensation. The finish has nutty and woody espresso notes.

The Chocovic Ocumare has an enjoyable, distinct flavor. The woody and dried fruit flavors pair very well together, and the lower level of acidity in this chocolate supports those flavors well. This is a very good chocolate, especially if you like the acidity toned down a bit.

Domori Puertofino

Today The Dark Chocolate Blog reviews the excellent Puertofino from Italian chocolate maker Domori.

Manufacturer: Domori
Cocoa Content: 70%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Today's chocolate tasting is the Puertofino 70% dark chocolate bar from Italy's Domori. The first point of note is the crisp, loud snap that rings out when breaking off a piece to taste. This is usually a sign of good things to come. The Puertofino bar is the color of rosewood with a purple tint.

On the palate there is a nutty, rich chocolate note. Espresso bean flavors are notable along with some nice bitterness. There is a solid bite of acidity that leads to notes of citrus, banana and mango. Nutty notes of walnut and hazelnut are here, as well as some earthiness and mushroom notes. Chewing the Puertofino opens up notes of leather, tobacco and hazelnuts. The Puertofino melts to a perfect thick, creamy consistancy. The finish has mocha/espresso beans paired with some green banana.

The Puertofino was my first experience with Domori's dark chocolate and it exceeded all my expectations. The construction is simply perfect and shows Domori's dedication to producing high quality chocolates. This bar has a nice bitter bite to it with a nice acidity as counterbalance. No one characteristic is overpowering, and this allows plenty of complexity to show through.

I paired the Puertofino with the Chambly Noire, a Belgian dark ale from Unibroue. Check out our sister site Beer! later this week for a review.

Amano Ocumare 70% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Amano
Cocoa Content: 70%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is the Amano Ocumare, a 70% dark chocolate bar made with cacao from the Ocumare Valley in Venezuela. The Ocumare bar is mahogany in color with a reddish-purple tint. The palate finds roasted chocolate notes up front along with some smokiness and a pleasant bitter kick. The acidity builds, opening up flavors of blackberry, blueberry and plum. Spice notes of black pepper, bell pepper and mint sit in the background with some earth and floral notes.

Chewing the Ocumare brings forward mint, vanilla, earth and a cedary wood note. The mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy, leaving a slight cooling sensation on the tongue. The finish has lingering bitter and roast flavors over juicy acid/fruit notes.

The Ocumare is a very good showing from Amano. This is a complex, well-balanced dark chocolate. The only fault I find is that no one feature stands out. The Ocumare is almost too balanced and complex for its own good. And as far as chocolate goes, that's not such a bad problem to have.

Michel Cluizel 1er Cru de Plantation Hacienda "Concepcion"

Manufacturer: Michel Cluizel
Cocoa Content: 66%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Our next review from Michel Cluizel's 1ier Cru de Plantation line is the "Concepcion" from Venezuela. The Concepcion bar is deep brown in color with faint purple hues. On the palate, the Concepcion has a nuttiness with peanut and walnut notes. There is a moderate acidity that brings out citrus, blackberry and dark cherries. Vanilla, roasted notes and "grilled" notes are also detectable.

Chewing the chocolate opens up notes of grilled vegetables, earthy/mushroom flavors and sweet lemonade citrus notes. The finish has a nuttiness along with a bitter note that combine to leave the impression of hazelnuts. The Concepcion's mouthfeel is smooth and creamy.

While the Concepcion didn't quite "wow" me the way the other chocolates from the 1er Cru de Plantation line have, this is still quite a tasty chocolate. Michel Cluizel's chocolates always seem to have just the right texture, along with balanced acidity and complex flavor. What more can you ask for?

Pralus Venezuela

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

The next dark chocolate up for review is the Pralus Venezuela. This chocolate bar is deep mahogany in color with dark cherry-red undertones. The initial flavor is of bitter coffee grounds, which then opens up to a rich dark roast coffee flavor. There is a smoky/roasted quality that persists. Nutty almond and pecan notes are present. The Pralus Venezuela dark chocolate bar has a moderate acidity.

Chewing the Pralus Venezuela opens up sweet notes of cherry and vanilla, along with some earth and tobacco. The finish lingers with more of the smoky bitterness. While this may be a bit one-dimensional in flavor, if you are a fan of chocolate with deep roasted flavor, then the Pralus Venezuela is your bar. Highly recommended.