Valrhona makes the bar look impressive with great molding and temper, while the natural coloring finishes the job, glaring with a medium shade of brown and a brilliant magenta-pinkish tint. Moving on to the aroma, a cozy and utterly fantastic scent is sent through the nose. It’s buttery with grassy and pine undertones, along with a faint tartness that adds fruity dimension and proper balance. Overall, things look good for Gran Couva.

A wonderful but medium-range chocolaty presence fills the mouth, both satisfying and faintly sweet at the same time, yet stronger than 2003. Spicy as well, the flavor starts off much differently than last year, then proceeds to fleeting fermented notes and then more agreeably to pine and grass. A splendid creamy buttery sensation that lingered previously picks up and takes over, and with it some peaches, and finally nuts. More intense than ever, but equally as comforting and cozy, the flavor is basically a louder version of the same theme.

Texture is probably thicker than expected for Valrhona and Gran Couva as well, since previous years saw a lighter body and not as much heft. Indeed, 2004 is a different chocolate than 2003, taking on a thicker body and a stronger intensity level that seem much more masculine and forward than the somewhat low-key nature that previously existed in 2003. That said vintage was more gianduja-like as well, but as a whole, Gran Couva in 2004 has retained its defining characteristics, just amplified.

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