The 2019 Growing Season
The weather in Piedra de Plata was generous and dependable throughout the 2019 growing season. In fact, it was shockingly consistent with the annual average weather over the six-year period that we’ve been tracking climate in Piedra de Plata. Ironically, this is what makes this year extraordinary.
Every other harvest year has had at least a few striking anomalies. The 2019 growing season was smooth and predictable throughout the 12-month period that preceded the harvest. Precipitation and sunlight tracked the monthly averages to a degree that we had never seen before.
In other words, the dry season was dry, the rainy season was rainy but well-endowed with plenty of sunlight, and the post-veraison phase was well-balanced. At harvest time, the cacao fruit was healthy and the flavor was well-balanced. We also used an especially soft touch during roasting and conching; we kept temperatures to a minimum.
The result is a relatively gentle dark chocolate with lovely notes of mandarine, orange blossoms, nuts, and coffee. Oh 2019, what a smooth and copacetic year you were! Little did we know what was in store for the world in 2020.
