Vitola: Canto VI (Corona Gorda)
Size: 5.5” x 46 ring gauge
Price $8.99
Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
Abandon hope, all ye who refuse to try Dante Cigars!
When I asked brand owner, Michael Huff, “Why Dante?” a few months ago, he said, “Why not?” Basically the poet, Dante Alighieri, was an inspiration to Huff…and let’s face it, it just has a cool ring to it. It’s hard to say “Dante” without summoning images of the 7 circles of hell, devilish torments for lost souls, and Satan himself, frozen in ice. Just smoking these cigars makes me want to dig out my paperback translations of The Divine Comedy (no, Clint Aaron, it has nothing to do with Bette Midler).
Dante Cigars’ first blend showed up in 2013 and it was generally well-received; I reviewed it HERE. This summer saw the release of a new blend from Dante, the Vita Nova—Italian for “new life.” The website doesn’t have a lot of information on it, but they do note that it is intended to be medium to full in body and it is a Nicaraguan puro with a Corojo wrapper leaf. I’ve smoked 2 or 3 of this blend in a couple different sizes before getting around to this review sample.
Prelight
The general design of the band is almost an inverse of the original band. This one is predominantly a red background with black trim and gold lettering. The paper stock is heavy and textured, which adds a nice look and the lettering is slightly embossed; overall it’s a fairly high-end feel with a fairly simple design. And it goes well with the light brown and slightly reddish wrapper leaf it is glued around. The leaf had a couple minor flaws and a bit of darker mottling in a couple places, but it felt very oily under my fingers and I didn’t see anything that would actually cause a burn problem. It had an aroma that was a mixture of earth and cedar, with maybe just a touch of hay. The foot had the more typical Nicaraguan aromas of rich earth and chocolate.
I tested the cold draw and found it to be very good, featuring some flavor notes of sweet hay, cedar, earth and red pepper.
Flavor
Once lit the flavors that immediately jumped out at me from the Vita Nova were cedar and red pepper. After a few puffs I got a little raisin sweetness and earthiness; the retrohale was full-force pepper, and I would expect no less from a Nicaraguan puro with a Corojo wrapper.
In the second third, I got some notes of hay mixed in while the pepper receded a bit on the palate. There was still plenty of woodiness and earthiness in the mix.
The final third of the Vita Nova had the sweeter hay notes and earth come to the forefront while the cedar moved back a little and the pepper made a slight return.
Construction
Great draw. Solid ash. Straight burn line. No problems!
Value
Very nice blend + a reasonable price = good value!
Conclusions
I enjoyed the original Dante, and I ended up liking this one just as much, if not a little more. The body was indeed in the medium to full range, as advertised, and the flavor was complex and full. Often it seems a cigar company will put out a winner for their first blend and then hit a bit of a sophomore slump, but I’m pleased to say that Dante has met or exceeded their first blend with the Vita Nova. Put it on your list.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
Looks like one I need to get ahold of.
Sounds good. I have one of the other Dante ready to roll, might have to grab it sooner rather than later
Sounds like one I’d like to try.
Thanks for the review. The original Dante band and name actually make me think of some cheap Famous exclusive. The inverted colors doesn’t help.
I have had this cigar and I have to tell you, I thought it was a very solid cigar and I agree with the 9/10 rating you gave it. Well done!