For what it’s worth, some of the trad/cellar/heavy stored cakes do well brewed in larger vessels with a lower leaf/water ratio in my experience. Trying something like 6 grams in a ~200-250 ml pot with longer steeps might be worthwhile. But I do think you are correct that the profile will be very divisive.
Drinking the 2006 Macau Hualian 7541 ("gaoshan" green brick), a brick I’ve been going through at express speed. Like the 05 T8653 thick paper, this one is just a really solid option for me on busy days like these. Good body, strength and huigan. A lingering smokiness even at 15 years (of dryish TW storage) that is sure to be divisive, much like Xiaguan’s, although I’d say the overall flavor profile is quite different.
I’ve been thinking recently about
this topic started by
@LeoFox last year, and how the “aspect preference” can be very situation dependent. For me currently I find my preference is more for these mid-aged big factory productions rather than ostensibly “better” teas, because they deliver on those fronts that I am able to pick up on even when I have to keep my mind focused at all times on a baby with seemingless endless energy and propensity for trying to break stuff. So aromatics, flavor etc, are taking a backseat. And something that will reliably give 6-7 good steeps might be more suitable than something offering 15 (and additional complexity)…