Blackpoint is a luxurious blend of red and lemon Virginias, Cyprian Latakia, exotic oriental tobaccos, and a perfect measure of Louisiana perique for a lively, piquant finish. The smoke is creamy and lingering, engaging the palate with a mouth-filling array of wonderful flavours. Reminiscent of raisins and stewed figs, fireplaces in the fall, walks in the forest. Blackpoint has the most complex flavor profile of any blend in the Classic Collection, making it perfect for moments of reflection and contemplation. Wonderful at any time of day, but ideal for the evenings. - From glpease.com
I pulled a tin of Blackpoint from the cellar. It had two and a half years in the tin. The bottom of the tin had bulged outward - some special things had been going on in there. I'm not one to go on about the aroma in the tin, but a fantastic smell escaped. This was somewhat an unusual yet familiar smell - it was like fermentation but different. The closest I can compare is maybe a Virginia and Perique blend like Dorchester. It was a fantastic fruity smell, likely from the Perique mostly. But there's only a small portion of that particular condiment in the recipe. It was obviously a result of the aging process - the intensity of the odor had dissipated with exposure to air.
The cut is mostly ribbons - not quite 1/8th inch wide. I appreciate this style of cut. It lends to easy consistent packing. A variety of autumn-like colors are present with the portion of black leaves seeming inconsistent with this blend's reputation for being strong. Moisture level directly from the tin was spot on.
The taste is wonderfully clean and dry. The Virginias contribute little sweetness, but more of a bright brassy flavor with a pleasant sharpness. There's a relaxed presence of Oriental leaf, not as lingeringly rich as found in other blends, and the star of the show is Cyprian Latakia, playing a part more woodsy and smoky than leathery. The Perique is always there, in a measure substantial enough to always be noticeable, but not usually distracting. All these flavors arrive at my palate in balanced proportions, with none of them hogging my attention.
As the smoke continues, all of these flavors intermingle and deepen. The edges are rounded off, but the complexity remains throughout the bowl. Something happens on each area of my palate. The variety of flavors and sensations reward attention and focus on the smoke. Unlike a lot of blends in this range that may be too rich or fatiguing, I'd be open to the idea of smoking Blackpoint any time of day, perhaps even successive bowls, but its character and livliness might be wasted in casual inattentive smoking.
According to Greg Pease, this blend responds very well to aging. It is part of his "Classic Collection" and was introduced in March of 2003.
