zotter Labooko Uganda 70%
Zotter - Uganda - Dunkle Schokolade - 70% - Batch 16.06.2024
Cacao origin/type:
Local cacao variety (they call these beans "Selection Noir de Noir" in Uganda according to zotter)
Ingredients:
Cacao beans, raw cane sugar, cacao butter
Other facts:
Made in Austria (zotter Schokolade GmbH, Riegersburg), BMEL seal for organic farming, Fairtrade
The single origin of zotter are designwise quite peculiar, small and narrow to open package in two separate small panels of 35g each, the front design always a kind of pop art motif, not quite my cup of tea, but a matter of personal taste. Inside you find a detailed text on the “official” tasting notes and also more info and photos on the beans, what bean-to-bar means, etc., as well as the two bars left and right in classic golden aluminum foil with logo. Also a small card with "instructions" or tips for smart tasting of high-quality chocolate is amusingly included.
Dark brown without any further color accent, as with all zotter Single Origin elaborately detailed with the logo, lettering and wavy embossing on the bar (or the two mini-bars), a small work of art and beautifully thin. More matt than silky, snapping hard and quite straight, even if not perfect.
Aroma:
Beautiful, clear fruit aromas on the nose, particularly noticeable here are sweeter berries, e.g. strawberry, cherries and some blueberries, subtle fermentation notes are present with these, some dark molasses behind them, rather little to almost no classic cocoa notes in the direction of nut/earth or roasted notes
Taste:
Interesting mixture, no note stands out in particular, the fruits are not as intense in comparison to the nose (or e.g. many Madagascar chocolates), some black, sweeter cherries, nicely moist fudge brownie with a still liquid center, plus a noticeable mint note, some strawberries with nice acidity still in them, the melting is quite slow and discreet, as well as very even, in the mouth then a slight roasted note, rather dry-nutty, but comparatively elegant
Finish:
On the finish, the fruit acidity is again somewhat more pronounced and the slight fermentation note of red berries and cherries, which was also present on the nose, some wood and toffee, as well as mint, medium to long-lasting
Comment:
As is usually the case with zotter, it is full-bodied, spreads widely in the mouth and also convinces with a beautiful aroma spectrum. There are a few more distinctive ones in terms of character at zotter, but it is already in the upper middleclass as far as distinct individual notes are concerned and is also of excellent quality in other respects.
