Fausto Esteli Cigar and Black Star Farms 2008 Vintners Select: Pairing

The Cigar

Fausto Esteli

Tatuaje Cigars

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 5 x 54 (F124 )

$10.49 at Smoky’s of Livonia, Michigan

Off the Light: sweet maduro taste mixed with a rich soil earthy tone.  As the smoke continues the spice picks up.  The spice reminds me of pink peppercorn (sweet yet spicy) and a good dose of white pepper.  The earthy tone is forest floor like with a mix of wood and soil.  As the cigar approaches the mid-point there is a dark French roast coffee style that builds.  I am going to give this cigar a 6.5 on my strength scale during the first half.

Second Half: as the burn enters the second half the body strength seems like a 6.  During the half the strength rating fluctuated from a 6 to a 7 then back to a 6 toward the end of the first half.  The spice is a dusty white pepper and the coffee note reminds me of an earthy coffee flavor. 

During the last couple of inches of this cigar the spice and bitterness picks up a bit.  A good beverage is needed at this point to manage the strength of the smoke. 

My Strength Rating: 6.5 overall – an interesting rollercoaster ride of spicy notes on the first half that settled to a 6 strength rating for the main portion of the stick. 

The Wine

2008 Vintners Select

Black Star Farms

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

Blackstarfarms.com

12% abv

$29.50 a bottle

Aroma: mixed dark berries with a nice touch of spice.

Flavors: to me blackberry jumps out front with a nice acidic touch, then throw in a dash of spice, a little smoky feel, and a bit of dark chocolate. 

My Strength Rating: 5.5 – medium and just on the edge of medium-full.

Visit WinePostings2 for the full review

The Pairing

This was a tasty pairing.  The blackberry note of the wine mingled well with the earthy coffee style of the cigar.  The spicy notes of the cigar worked well the settle spice of the wine.  And, of course the smoky feel of the wine let me know this wine would be a ringer to pair with a quality cigar. 

Curivari Seleccion Privada Royales and St Bernardus Christmas Ale: Pairing

The Beer

St Bernardus Christmas Ale

Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV.

Watou, Belgium

10% abv

75 cl bottle

$12.00 a bottle

Appearance: dark brown body with mahogany highlights shining through around the edges.  Light tan head and it is easy to pour a two finger head. 

Aroma: pouring the ale into the chalice I can smell some spicy notes.  Dark bready yeast tones, raisin, brown spice mix,

Flavors: tasty brown spice box like quality, black bready tones, earthy yeast, dark fruits like raisins, sweet caramel malt undertone, spicy and tingling hops dance on the tongue,

Mouthfeel: fine carbonation gives the tongue a fizzy feel, the spice pinches the cheeks and gums, prickly and dry texture on the palate

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – the dark bready notes, brown spice box, and raisins along with the spice makes for a good medium-full bodied ale. 

    

The Cigar

Curivari Seleccion Privada Royales

Curivari.com

The Seleccion Privada comes in three different sizes:

Robustos 5 x 50

Royales 5 x 54 I am reviewing this size

Diplomaticos: 6 ¼ x 54

The Curivari is a Nicaraguan Puro and is blended with Criollo and Corojo tobaccos.  

Here is the description on the web site:

“Perfectly balanced, with medium body, this cigar has
a creamy smooth flavor profile, woody with a touch
of vanilla, and a sweet finish”

This sounds like it should pair well with this Christmas Ale but, I have to admit that ‘I’ don’t care for the accuracy (in-accuracy) of their descriptions of their cigars. 

Off the Light: nice mild-medium forest floor like quality with some light soil, dry leafs, and wood.  About three minutes into the smoking experience I start to notice a creamy smooth texture.  On the first three minutes of the cigar I thought it was more smooth leather like.  Now, a little sweet tobacco starts to swirl around the palate.  I think I am going to call it vanilla-almond. 

The cigar holds a light gray ash. The pic shows a one inch ash.

I think it is a good time to introduce the Christmas Ale.

The Pairing: an interesting combination.  The ale has the dark fruit, dark bready yeast, and a spicy style and the cigar comes in with a mild-medium body with a slightly sweet vanilla-almond and light forest floor style.  It is like the cigar refreshes the palate after sipping the ale.  No, not ‘like’ it does refresh the palate.  The ale has a prickly spicy texture and the cigar has a smooth creamy style.  I guess this is the ying and the yang of this Christmas pairing.  At first I did not know what to think about this pairing.  It was a little too much ying vs. yang at first.  Then, it started to grow on me. 

Second Half: the light soil seems to becoming a little fuller and the wood is reminding me of a soft alder wood.  The texture is smooth but, not as creamy as before.  The almond nut note is still in the mix but, the vanilla is not as noticeable. 

With only about an inch and a half left on the cigar the flavors are becoming a little more toasted.  Toasted leafs, smoked wood, and roasted almond. 

My Strength Rating (cigar): 4 – medium-mild flavors and body. 

To the Point (cigar): a tasty medium-mild cigar.  I am looking forward to smoking my second cigar that I purchased of this cigar. 

The Pairing: the ying and yang experience is over at this point.  The toasted notes of the cigar are mixing with the raisin and dark bready yeast notes of the ale.  This is a very interesting pairing if you are paying attention. 

Merry Chirstmas from Cigar Postings

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Chisel and 2008 Leorie Vineyard

The Cigar

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Chisel

Wrapper: Habano

Binder/Filler: Dominican

Size: 6.5 x 54
laflordominicana.com

$10.19 Smoky’s of Northville, Michigan

I don’t recall ever smoking a cigar with this chisel shape.  When I bite on it, it reminds me of the plastic tips on those drug store cigars.  I imagine that those guys who like the V-cut should like this shape. 

Off the light the cigar displays a nice earthy style (dried leafs), a mild-medium coffee, and a touch of spice.  I think the chisel shape does control the smoking experience like a V-cut would.  Here on the first third of this cigar I think the chisel shape makes the smoke a little cooler, the amount of smoke is controlled of course, the overall body feel comes across milder so to say.  I would guess with a normal round butt there would be more smoke thus more body.  I am going to say the cigar is a 4 on my strength scale and that would place it in the mild-medium range. 

Mid-Point: the earthy style still makes me think of dried leafs and soil, the coffee is medium bodied, and the spiciness is showing some green and black peppercorn like qualities. 

Down the Stretch: The mouth feel seems fuller at this point in the smoking experience.  The cigar has a good Habano spice quality.  The earthy notes seem to be soil mixed with some oaky tones.  There is some bittering to the taste at this point.  I’ll have to give it a 5.5 on my strength scale here in the stretch. 

My Strength Scale: 5 overall.  Starts off mild-medium and builds to a solid medium through the mid and finish. 

The Wine

I paired this Air Bender Chisel with a red wine.  The wine is Black Star Farms 2008 Leorie Vineyard.  It is a blend of: Merlot 76% and Cabernet Franc 24%.  This is a Michigan wine from Suttons Bay. 

Appearance: garnet body with a ruby edge.

Aroma: fresh red berries with a dusting of earth.  Light overall.

Flavors: Red currant, plum, spice from the oak, cocoa powder, and black soil.

Visit WinePostings2 for the full review.

The Pairing

This was a very pleasing pairing.  The spicy notes from the cigar played off the oak and spice qualities of the wine for a delicious experience.  The earthy tones and the coffee note of the cigar mingled with the fruits of the wine to add some good body to the overall mouth feel of this pairing. 

The cigar did not overpower the wine.  The two seemed to work well together. 

Curivari El Gran Rey Emperadores: Review

Curivari.com

This Nicaraguan puro is made with Cuban seed Criollo and Corojo tobaccos.  Here is the skinny according to their web site on the El Gran Rey: this ‘full-bodied cigar is rich and spicy, exquisitely balanced, with a core of sweet spices, caramel, honey and a long, complex finish.’

The El Gran Rey comes in three different sizes:

Emperadores 5 x 50 which I’ll be reviewing

Belicosos 5 3/8 x 52

Prominentes 6 ½ x 50

College Football Bowl Games start today. 

Here are my picks for the games today. 

Temple over Wyoming; Wyoming is going to need more than the 6-1/2 points. 

Ohio over Utah State; Ohio is only getting 2-1/2 points but, I think they show up today to finish the game.

La.-Lafayette over San Diego State; I think the 5 point spread gets Lafayette the win. 

I bought two of these Emperadores and I smoked one of them yesterday.  Let’s see how it reviews today. 

11:52 am

Off the Light: light soil and a hint of floral.  As the smoke continues that hint of floral has a little perfumy taste.  About four minutes into the smoke a touch of spice starts to appear.   As the spice starts to develop some character it reminds me of green peppercorn.  I am looking for the sweet notes that they used to describe this cigar and I don’t notice any yet (20 minutes into the smoke).

The cigar is holding a slightly ruff salt and pepper colored ash.  The picture shows a ¾ inch ash.  I removed the ash at the one inch point. 

The floral note that I noticed, off the light of the cigar, seems to come and go.  I am not getting that perfume note thank god.  During this first half there is a nice rich soil and dry leafs that swirl around that green peppercorn spicy quality.   I’ll have to give this a 5.5 on my strength scale.

Second Half: as the smoke enters the second half the floral note is a little more consistent but, it is not strong.  One might make an argument for a roasted caramel note.  It is so settle that I don’t think it is much of a factor.  There is a toasted rye bread quality along with that soil, dry tobacco leaf, and that peppery style is reminding me of a dusty white pepper at this point.  The strength rating is still in the medium range.  I’ll give it a 5 on my strength scale. 

My Strength Rating: 5 overall.  Medium bodied at best. 

To the Point: an okay smoking experience.  I liked the second half better for I did not get that perfumy note as I did during the first inch or so.   

CAO Italia Ciao: Review

Wrapper: Honduran Habano-seed

Fillers: Nicaragua, Peru and Italy

Size: 5 x 56

Some of the tobaccos are grown in the Benevento region of Italy.  When you think of Italy you think of fine wine – well now you can think of this fine cigar.  Thinking about it – this should go well with a fine Italian Wine. 

Now, this five pack of Italia’s is interesting in the fact that the wrapper is a brown color instead of the very dark brown/blackish like wrapper on the ones I have smoked in the past.  I wonder how this will affect the flavor profile.  I know with the La Gloria R Series Maduros that I do not like the stick that have a brownish look compared to the black color on the wrapper. 

I just smoked two of these Ciao’s back to back and this cigar wass pretty consistent from start to finish.  It has a rich sweet soil earthy style with a brown spice box quality and a mild coffee note.  I have to say that I like this stick but, it is not what I remember an Italia to taste like. 

I just looked at my last review of the Ciao and it sounds completely different than this one.  Maybe the color of the Habano wrapper does have a big impact on the flavor profile. 

Man O’ War Ruination Box-Press: Review

Wrapper: Habano Ecuador ligero

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Honduran ligeros

Size: 5.5 x 52

Special size from their sampler tin

Off the Light: toasted tobacco and sweet wood.  Then the spice hits on the 3^rd and 4^th puff.  Full peppery spice.  Pepper on the taste and more pepper on the finish.  

Past that one inch mark a toasted oak and rich composted soil earthy tone mingles in with the peppery style.  The peppery style did relax a bit here. 

Late in the first half the toasted oak is still pleasing, the earthy tone is mixed with a medium roast coffee note.  The peppery style tingles the palate and plays with the sinuses with each puff.  The texture is soft wool like. 

I smoked one of these, the other day, on the way up north to my summer place and the peppery style had me going crossed-eyed. 

Second Half: the cigar seems to have mellowed a bit but, that is not saying much.  The taste makes me think of earthy coffee and toasted grains.  The oak seems to a bit smoother.  Deep into the second half the toasted grains remind me of toasted rye bread with a dusting of white pepper on it.  The texture is definitely wool like. 

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – hearty and robust

CI Blend Lab YP-5754 Cigar and Black Star Farms 2008 Leorie Vineyard: Pairing

The Wine

Black Star Farms 2008 Leorie Vineyard

Blend: Merlot 76% and Cabernet Franc 24%

Old Mission Peninsula

Black Star Farms

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

Blackstarfarms.com

13% abv

$45.00 a bottle

Opening the bottle has the heart beating a little fast because the cork has a lot of seepage and it looks like the wine has made it way to the top of the cork.  The cork does have a wax topper.  I smelled the cork and it does not smell bad and then a quick whiff from the bottle all seems well. (see cork at the bottom of this posting)  I pour a little into a wine glass and it seems okay.  No outstanding nasty taste.  Okay, let’s set up to do the review. 

Appearance: garnet body with a ruby edge.

Aroma: fresh red berries with a dusting of earth.  Light overall.

Flavors: Red currant, plum, spice from the oak, cocoa powder, and black soil.

Mouthfeel: smooth on the delivery and then a bit jammy on the finish, lingering berries on the palate, full-medium body overall,

The Cigar

CI Blend Lab YP-5754

Cigars International web site recommends to pair this with a Port Wine but, I don’t have one and I already had this bottle selected for reviewing.

Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro

Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro

Fillers: Esteli Ligero, Condega Viso, Jalapa Ligero

Size: 5.75 x 54 Figurado

I smoked one the other week and enjoyed it so, let’s see how it reviews. 

Off the Light: rich soil with a hint of spice in the back.  As the smoke continues the spice starts to come through.  The spice has a good black and green peppercorn likeness. The soil earthy tone seems to be mixed with a touch of hardwood.  The draw is perfect and the mouthfeel is wool like.

The Pairing: the soil and black peppery spice quality of the cigar contrasts the smooth delivery, red berries, and black soil like qualities of the wine nicely.  What I found interesting was the jammy mouth feel did not seem a full as when I had the wine by itself. 

Mid-Point: as the smoke enteres the mid-section of the stick the bold black pepper profile seems to be settling.  Now, it seems like the green peppercorn is still present, but a dusting of white musty peppercorn is in the mix.  The rich soil and hardwood notes seem to be the main profile here in the mid-section compared to the black pepper in the first third.  The mouthfeel is a little smoother than the first third. 

The Pairing: with the earthy qualities of the cigar standing out here at the mid-point this seems to help to bring out the earthy notes of the wine.  The oaky note and the hint of spice from the wine is a little more noticeable during this point of the experience.  This has turned out to be a very good pairing.

Down the Stretch: Pretty much like the mid-section with a touch of a bitter note on the palate. 

To the Point (cigar): a very good experience. Worth the 7 bucks.   

Gerard Geneve Cigar: Review

Steve mailed me this cigar

Size: 4.5 x 54 is my guess

I can’t find any information on this cigar.

Off the Light: light earthy tones of: toasted leafs and soft soil. Very smooth and mild-medium body here at the start. 

As the smoking experience continues the toasted notes start to pick up in body strength. A dry coffee tone starts to develop. 

As I finish the first half let me call it a dry (not a bad dry) earthy coffee profile.  The only problem was it was not longer. 

Second Half: as the burn entered the second half of the experience is a good medium bodied smoke that is smooth in its delivery.  While the flavor profile seems simple it is very tasty and satisfying.  Now, I am wishing I had a second one to pair with a tasty red wine. 

The forest floor like quality of toasted leafs and soil makes for a good robust experience here in the final half.  The medium roast coffee tone is still enjoyable. 

Gurkha Ancient Warrior Vintage Presidente and Dark Horse Plead the 5th Imperial Stout Ale: Pairing

The Ale

Dark Horse Plead the 5^th Imperial Stout Ale

Dark Horse Brewing Co.

Marshall, Michigan, USA

Darkhorsebrewing.com

Late Winter Seasonal

No dates on the bottle

Must be from last February

That’s when it’s released

Bottle Size: 12oz

Abv not available (darkhorsebrewing.com)

12% abv on beeradvocate

Appearance: black body with a ½ finger dark tan head, don’t forget to swirl the last inch of ale to mix in the sediment, looked thick on the pour, dark tan curtain with each sip, does not leave much on the glasses except some syrupy legs.

Aroma: dark roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate, burnt sugars, not powerful but pleasing

Flavors: espresso with roasted molasses, dark chocolate character, bitter notes on the mid and finish but it does not stand out, these notes all come together for one tasty Imperial Stout. 

Mouthfeel: thick, almost syrupy, silky slide, this is a sipper

My Strength Rating: 7.5/8 – a solid medium-full bodied stout, the dark roasted notes linger on the palate for a tasty aftertaste.

To the Point: A very good Imperial Stout, not overwhelming as some Imperial Stouts can be, has some solid flavors to sit back and enjoy. 

The Cigar

Gurkha Ancient Warrior Vintage Presidente

Special Edition

Wrapper: Habano

Fillers: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Size: 8.5 x 52

I would be surprised if it was a 50 ring gauge

I got 10 sticks for $40 on CI

Normally $65 for 10

I have not seen this one in years.  This was one of my favorite Gurkhas back in the day.  I always had a good stash of these in the humidor and it was a favorite to pair with a quality red wine.  Let’s see how it is now that they brought it back on the market. 

Off the Light: earthy start, soil like; a delicate floral note evolves and a toasty sweet tobacco.  Let’s see how it goes with this Imperial Stout.

The Pairing: after a few puffs on the cigar I introduce the Stout.  The Stout has a smooth and syrupy style with a sweet creamy coffee finish.  This is going to be one nice pairing. 

I then rest the palate for a moment and then take a sip of the ale before taking a puff on this big stick and the cigar flavors are focused on the rich soil earthy tones and the toasted tobacco leaf quality.   

Mid-Point: a good hardwood note develops (reminds me of hickory) with the rich mineral soil earthy tones, toasted sweet Russian bread, I have not noticed that delicate floral note since the first inch of the cigar, toasted tobacco leaf

The Pairing: As I said earlier that I use to enjoy this cigar with red wine, well I now think I’ll have to enjoy this stick with some Imperial Stouts.  The earthy notes, tobacco leaf, and sweet Russian bread qualities of the cigar match up perfectly with the ales dark chocolate, espresso, and roasted molasses profile.

Down the Stretch: the smoke is still rich in its earthy and toasty tobacco style.  The sweet bready note has stepped to the side and the overall smoking experience now is more roasted like. 

The Pairing: truly, I don’t know if this can get any better.    

Pinar del Rio Seleccion Toro and Vino Nobiledi Montepulciano 2003: Pairing

The Wine

Vino Nobiledi Montepulciano 2003

Denominazione Di Origine Controllata Garantita

Capoverso

Siena, Italy

Vinicapoverso.com

Uswineimports.com

13.5% abv

Appearance: deep dark garnet with a little ruby around the rim.

Aroma: dark berry, the alcohol is happy that the cork is popped; later the aroma was dark berry and earthy, the alcohol got a chance to burn off, so to say.

Flavors: heavy on the dark berries, it reminds me of a mixed dark berry pie filling, there seems to be a little bit of an inky note, firm soil note,

Mouthfeel: leathery, dark berries cover the tongue,

My Strength Rating: 7.5 – medium-full feel from the thick berry profile and the earthy tones. 

The Cigar

Pinar del Rio Seleccion Toro

Reserva  Limitada

Wrapper: Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro

Fillers: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Size: 6 x 50

I have smoked a couple of these sticks in the past month and it seems to be a pretty good smoke overall.  So, let’s do a review and a wine pairing with this one today.

Off the Light: nice mild-medium earthy tone that has a forest floor likeness.  As the smoke continues there is a good spicy quality that develops.  The earthy notes seem to build with each puff.  The spicy notes remind me of ginger and white pepper. 

The Pairing: boy this cigar makes this wine seem tame here on the first few sips.  I think it is the spicy quality of the cigar that mellows the wine.  The dark berry notes start to show up in the wine during the next few exchanges. The earthy styles of these two seem to complement each other. 

Mid-Point: the mouthfeel seems leathery and the earthy notes dominate on the aftertaste.  The forest floor character comes across as complex; mineral soil, toasted vegetation (toasted tobacco leaf), wood notes that remind me of a mixture of hardwood and some spicy cedar.  Thinking of spice it now seems like a mixed pepper mill grind, a little white, green, and black pepper mix.  At times I get that white pepper musty taste and then I get that coarse black pepper citrus bite. 

I think I am enjoying this cigar more so than the ones that I just sat back smoked the other week.  With that statement right there proves my point that ‘reviewing’ a cigar is completely different than just sitting back and smoking a stick.  This is also true for wine and beer reviews that I do as well. 

The Pairing: I think I enjoy drinking the wine first and then taking a few puffs of the cigar.  I enjoy the flavors of the wine first and then the cigar complements the wine.  When I would take a few puffs of the cigar and then sip the wine the cigar seemed to override the wines flavors. 

Down the Stretch: a robust mixture of soil, dried leafs, and smoked hardwood.  The mouthfeel is leathery and dry.  This cigar does need a quality beverage.  I think a quality pilsner or lager would be a good contrast to this robust smoking experience. 

My Strength Rating (cigar): 8 – firm earthy tones with a complex spice profile. 

To the Point: Don’t just smoke this stick – experience it – take your time and think of the flavors you experience.    

Ave Marie Ark of the Covenant and Sirius Red: Pairing

The Wine

Sirius Red

Grape Dessert Wine

Black Star Farms

Old Mission Peninsula

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Blackstarfarms.com

18% abv

375 ml bottle

$28.50

Appearance: deep dark burgundy with ruby highlights

Aroma: dusty baker’s chocolate powder, mixed nut shells, light earthy tone, slight alcohol scent

Flavors and Mouthfeel: almost syrupy, little dusty and slightly grainy feel to the mocha, spice from the alcohol so, it has a light peppery tone, slight medicinal feel also coming from the alcohol, black cherry, hint of anise and/or horehound, I think I like the idea of horehound here because it has a spicy style that is bittersweet and this wine has that style.  Now, it all comes together, black cherry, horehound, alcohol with a slight medicinal feel – this sounds like the perfect cough drop lozenges. 

My Strength Rating: 5.5 – a good medium body dessert wine.

To the Point: May not be for everyone. The slight medicinal style may be at issue; while I like it … my wife did not. 

The Cigar

Ave Marie Ark of the Covenant

Short Gordo

Wrapper: Habano

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 4.5 x 60

5 pack for $36.00

I did a review on this cigar yesterday to prepare for the pairing today but, today the experience is a little different.  Yesterday the first half of the cigar was on the milder side with a very pleasing complex earthy quality.  Today, right off the light it has a more medium body style and the oak flavor is right there front and center where yesterday the oak did not appear till I was past the halfway point on the stick.  I have not smoked enough of these Ave Maries to know if it was something from the cigar or was it my palate. 

So, let me deal with what I have today.

And, this Short Gordo has a good medium oaky tone with a firm walnut like quality here in the first inch of the cigar.  This is my third Ave Marie Ark of the Covenant cigar that I have had and the first one tasted like this one and the one I did the review on yesterday had a different smoking experience (but, I liked it).  Today, the first half of this cigar is a 5 on my strength scale.

Pairing this cigar with the port style dessert wine from Black Star Farms should work well.  The oaky, nutty, and dusty earth style of the cigar should match well with the black cherry, dusty mocha, and spices of this dessert wine. 

The first few exchanges confirm that this is going to be a good pairing.  Both of these have this dusty, earthy thing going on.  The oak from the cigar matched well with the black cherry and horehound like qualities in the wine.  The flavors from the cigar and I think it is the dusty earth style that blankets the alcohol spice and helps to manage that slight medicinal feel of the dessert wine. 

The second half of this cigar starts to move to a 6 rating on my strength scale.  The oak is a little firmer, the earthy tone deepens, and the walnut note is more like ‘walnut shell’ than the nut (slightly bitter). 

The Pairing: I enjoy the cigar to wine exchange more than tasting the wine first then the cigar exchange.  The cigar first seems to manage the flavors of the wine.  The black cherry and spice flavor comes thru more so with this exchange.  Likewise, the cigar is slightly bitter toward the end here and the wine in return helps to manage this. 

Overall, this was a good pairing to me. 

Gurkha Beauty Cigar and Blue Water Cab Sauvignon and Franc '09

The Wine

Blue Water Winery Cab Sauvignon and Franc

2009 Vintage

Blue Water Winery

Carsonville, Michigan, USA

North of Lexington and South of Port Sanilac

13.5% abv

$16.00 I think, damn I forgot to get the price list from them.

Bluewaterwinery.com

Appearance: Bright and shiny ruby color with a little watery edge on the rim.  Lighter in color than I would expect but, this is a fairly new winery they have been around since 2004. 

Aroma: fruity, cherry and raspberry like with a dusting of spice.

Flavors: very pleasing, sweet cherry, black raspberry, just a dash of pink peppercorn,

Mouthfeel: smooth, fresh, pleasing to the palate, clean aftertaste, tannins seem low, and the acidic level seems low.  I would guess this one is not for aging. 

My Strength Rating: 4 – a mild-medium Cab Blend.

To the Point: Okay, it is not going to make it with the big boys, yet.  But, it is very enjoyable to drink.  They have only been making wine for six or seven years now and I am looking forward to following their wines in the future. 

I enjoyed it with a homemade pizza.

I think this will pair well with a good mild-medium bodied cigar and I have one in mind and I just reviewed it yesterday.  So, let me grab a new one out of the humidor and let’s do a wine and cigar pairing.

The Cigar

Gurkha Beauty

Wrapper: Connecticut-seed – Ecuadorian

Binder: Dominican

Fillers: Nicaraguan

5 year old tobaccos

Size: 6.5 x 56 according to CI

Sure looks bigger.  I just plucked a 60 ring gauge stick out of the humidor and it is the same size of this baby. 

Gurkhacigars.com

I got a 10 pack for $50.00 from Cigars International.

This stick can be $20 or more.

This blonde beauty has one flaw – it has a heavy leaf vein right on the butt side.

Off the Light: nice smooth woodsy note right off the bat.  The texture is smooth and almost creamy off the light.  As the smoke continues I am going to pigeon hole the wood note to a mild oaky flavor.  Late in the first third I am reminded of a meaty walnut taste.  My Strength Rating 2/2.5

The Pairing: This cigar really adds some body to the wine.  The cherry and raspberry notes feel a little fuller on the tongue. This is much better than I thought it would be. 

Mid-Point: This is a pretty straight forward mild cigar with that oaky and walnut like taste.  It is very enjoyable to smoke.  And, it has an elegant style to the smoking experience.  My Strength Rating at the mid-point: 2.5 – an elegant mild-medium smoke.  

The Pairing: The oak and walnut like notes of the cigar complement the fresh berry notes of the wine.  The hint of sweetness, from the wine, comes through during this pairing yet, the wines dry style is still pleasing.     

Down the Stretch: the solid woody note continues with a dusty earth style as I smoke this ‘beauty’ down to the nub.  That vein on the butt side did not become a factor.  The texture continued to be smooth with a pleasing aftertaste.  My Strength Rating on the finish: 3

The Pairing: I think the cigar helps to bring out the wines acidic nature – in a good way.  Remember, I said that the wines acidic level seemed low when I reviewed the wine by itself.  The mouthfeel from these two is definitely on the mild-medium side.  The aftertaste is relatively clean and that means this would be a very good before dinner experience.  I have to admit that I really like this pairing.

My Strength Rating for the Cigar: 2.5 – a great mild-medium smoking experience.

To the Point: for the right price this cigar is a must buy.  I am a full to medium-full bodied fan but, as always I enjoy all ranges.

Pair this cigar with a mild-medium Pinot Noir, a mild Beaujolais Nouveau, or this should pair well with some good whites.  With the third week of November heading our way keep an eye out for that Beaujolais and make a night of it. 

Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon,

35% Cabernet Franc