Review: E. Guittard Nocturne

Lindy's Rating: 5.0 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 5.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker E. Guittard bar Nocturne region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 91% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $2.89

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with signature imprints and scoring aroma roast(cocoa), berry, floral(honeysuckle), earth(must) snap hard taste sour/tart, citrus, roast(cocoa), nut, vanilla, slightly ashy melt smooth length minimal-short finish sour, somewhat ashy

Etienne Guittard started the Guittard Chocolate Company in 1868 in San Francisco, and it remains owned and operated by the Guittard family. Nocturne is the darkest chocolate made by Guittard, with 91% cocoa solids. The two ounce bar reviewed here came wrapped in gold foil inside the black paper wrapper printed with a best before date of October 2012. Nocturne was scored into 12 pieces, each with an imprint of the "E. Guittard" signature.

Guittard Nocturne had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. Breaking the bar gave a hard snap and released more aromas of roast in the form of cocoa, a red berry, a floral scent that Lindy identified as honeysuckle, and an earthy must.

The taste of this chocolate seemed sour to me and tart to Lindy, with flavors of citrus, the cocoa we smelled in the aroma, nuttiness, and some vanilla. It also tasted slightly ashy to me.

Nocturne had a smooth melt. The chocolate flavor left quickly after the chocolate was gone. The aftertaste was not bitter; instead we were left with a sour and somewhat ashy finish. Lindy could also continue to taste some of the nuttiness.

You can purchase Guittard Nocturne online directly from Guittard for $2.89, or from Chocolopolis for $2.99.