I had another session with one of my favourite ripes today, and I still like it as much as I used to :)
The woodsy aspects seem slightly enhanced, especially in the dry leaf aroma and towards the end of the session. Otherwise it hasn’t changed much. Today I detected some faint notes of sea shells in second infusion, which had a strong umami and a mineral & marine character.
Additionally, relative to my previous experiences, there was also a hint of star anise in the early steeps, as well as medicinal and leathery notes later on, and flavours of corn and plant roots at the very end. The aftertaste is still mostly bittersweet with a strong dark chocolate flavour and a hint of wet rocks.
The mouthfeel, maybe even more oily and coating than before, is very elegant and supple and plays an important role in the overall experience.
Flavors: Anise, Dark Bittersweet, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Marine, Medicinal, Mineral, Nuts, Plum, Smooth, Sour, Spices, Sweet, Umami, Wet Rocks, Wood
I love this one. Had it once. I’ll have to dig my sample out and see if I notice sea shells. :D