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2007 Carenero Reserve |
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The Carenero Reserve is a special torte made once a year and only in very limited quantities. We make it with the same care and dedication as we do our original Empire Torte.
The chocolate we use for the Empire Torte comes exclusively from Venezuela. In creating this annual reserve, we select chocolate from only one plantation in the small town of Carenero. In our opinion, this small enclave produces the world's most exquisite chocolate beans. We honor this place with our reserve torte. Carenero's rainfall, sunlight and temperature during each growing season combine to create a unique chocolate. It is the microclimate of the region that determines the flavor. Even from grove to grove the type of shade trees and soil composition produce subtle variations.  |
 This year we have selected cacao from the same plantation as the previous year. There is something extra special about the location of these specific trees on this hillside. We were just wowed (again) by the flavor that came from this year’s harvest. The resulting chocolate is full bodied but has a smoother taste and texture than we have experienced in previous years. The flavor is not as edgy but we think you’ll like it just the same. The demand for single origin chocolate continues to grow. Our contact with the local growers enables us to purchase a limited amount of cacao for our reserve. The number of tortes we can make is determined by how much chocolate can be produced from this single plantation. The 2007 yield allows us to create only 220 confections this year.  |
Empire Torte Reserve vs. Empire Torte Original
Which is better? The answer is both. If you have ever selected a fine wine or specialty tea or coffee, you know that there can be several varieties to pick from. Taste can differ widely even from one vintage or harvest to another. The Empire Torte and the Reserve should be thought of in the same way. Both are exceptional and are made from the world's finest source for chocolate. So it is not a question of one over the other, but one of variety.  |
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 Note: Venezuela supplies less than 2% of the world's chocolate. |
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