The Wine
Arcturos 2011 Cabernet Franc
Black Star Farms
Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA
50% Grand Traverse County
50% Leelanau County
Vineyards: Montague Estate, Capella and Isidors Choice
Vineyards
$25.00 a bottle
This pairing looks like Déjà vu all over again. Yes, I just did a review on the Arcturos
Cabernet Franc but, that was the 2010.
Yes, I just did a review on the La Aroma De Cuba but, that was the
Double Toro and this is the Toro size.
Yes, I paired the 2010 Cab Franc with the Double Toro so why not smoke
the Toro with the 2011 Cab Franc.
Appearance: rich ruby body with lighter ruby edges
Aroma: blackberry, black plum, light spice,
Right after opening:
Flavors: fruit forward; with black currant, pomegranate, and
raspberry notes, a hint of mineral soil and light spice on the finish. The only thing that seems to change after the
bottle has been opened for a couple hours is the ‘hint of mineral soil’ is just
a tad firmer – just a tad.
Mouthfeel: a little
thin on the front, dark berries swirl on the tongue, slight oaky spice on the
finish, moderate acidity, it does not have that watery edge like the 2010.
My Strength Rating: 5/5.5- medium body
To the Point: While this seems close to the 2010 – I think I
like this one just a tad better. I have
two more bottles left and I’ll check out the next one in a year or two.
The Cigar
La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico
Wrapper: Mexico
Fillers: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 52 Toro
$7.99 Smoky's of Northville
Off the Light: moderate earthy tones of soil and wood. As the burn continues a medium-dark roast
coffee hits the palate. The wood starts
to remind me of a light oaky note. There
is a light spice that shows up on the finish.
The texture is smooth at this point.
I’ll give it a 4.5 on my strength scale (medium body).
The Pairing: this is a nice pairing. Both are medium in body. The berry notes of the wine mingle nicely
with the earthy tones of the cigar. The
oak in the cigar seems to bring out a little oak in the wine.
Mid-Point: as the smoke enters the mid-section a toasted oak;
some earthy soil starts to coat the palate with light oak spice. As the cigar gets to the mid-point the oaky
spice gets a little more body and the medium-dark roast coffee is still
pleasing. The texture is
semi-smooth. I’ll give it a 5 on my
strength scale here at the mid-point.
The Pairing: I really like this wine during this
pairing. The toasted oak of the cigar
has become the main note of the cigar here and is adding a good dimension to
the wine. The oak like spice of the
cigar plays well with the light spice of the wine. The earthy note of the cigar brings out the
mineral soil note of the wine. The dark
berries of the wine seem to transfer to the cigar for a tasty experience. I swear the cigar picks up a little floral
note during this pairing at times – during this mid-point.
Down the Stretch: as the burn moves into the final third the
body becomes a little fuller moving into the 5.5 range maybe 6. The toasted notes are still pleasing; with
toasted oak, toasted oak spice, and toasted grains. The toasted oak spice is more on the
finish. The soil is a little
darker. The mouthfeel is still semi-smooth
like.
The Pairing: I really don’t want this cigar to end during
this pairing – I have more wine to go!
The flavors are all playing well together for a very pleasing medium
bodied experience. I think a fuller
bodied cigar just might be too much for this wine and overpower its delicate
flavors.
To the Point (cigar): this is a very nice cigar. Worthy to buy and I think I’ll pick up a box
soon.
To the Point (pairing): this was a very nice pairing. These two were meant for each other.
