Well-known among aficionados, Arturo Fuente cigars never cease to surprise with their innovative, perfectly balanced blends and flawless construction. As a result, they are among the most sought-after cigars in the world, and brilliantly embody the richness of the Dominican terroir. Until 1995, the Fuente family built its reputation on the quality of its blends. With the creation of Opus X, they exceeded all expectations and became the first cigar manufacturer to produce top-quality Dominican wrapper leaves. In this article, we invite you to discover the cape sheets that have contributed to the success of Arturo Fuente cigars.
The Cameroon cape
Highly prized by high-end cigar makers, the Cameroon wrapper is distinguished by its mellow, sweet aromas and sawtooth appearance. It comes from Sumatra seeds and is produced exclusively in Sun Grown in the East Cameroon basin. Introduced by the Germans in the early 20th century, then developed by Seita from the 1950s onwards, Cameroon cape was saved from extinction in the early 90s thanks to the determination of Rick Meerapfel. Today, the Meerapfel family is the official supplier of Cameroonian capes for the Arturo Fuente brand.
Among the Arturo Fuente cigars that use a Cameroon wrapper, the ranges Arturo Fuente Hemingway and Arturo Fuente Don Carlos are by far the most famous. Recognizable by their characteristic dark brown color, these blends perfectly combine the sweetness of Cameroonian capes with the strength of Dominican tobaccos.
Fuente Fuente Opus X cape
If there's one wrapper leaf that embodies the passion and expertise of the Fuente family, it's the Opus X. First introduced in 1995, this wrapper leaf is used for one of the world's most sought-after cigars: the Fuente Fuente Opus X. The first Dominican puro to be marketed under the "premium" label, this stick is considered by many to be the pinnacle of cigar perfection. In 2005, the Fuente Fuente Opus X Double Corona was voted "best cigar of the year" by the magazine Cigar Aficionadowith a score of 95/100.
The story of the Opus X cape began in 1988, when the owner of the famous Paris-based Boutique 22 visited Château de la Fuente. Admiring the work of the Fuente family, he complimented Carlito on the quality of production. But he adds that the Arturo Fuente brand will never be considered one of the world's top brands, because the Fuente family simply assembles cigars rather than produces them. Piqued by this remark, Carlito Fuente set about designing cigars from scratch.
But at the time, no one had ever succeeded in growing quality cape leaves in the mineral-rich soil of the Dominican Republic. Many industry voices were quick to tell Carlito that his project would never come to fruition. But in his own words, "it's not the soil that creates exceptional tobaccos, but the work of men". Determined to achieve this feat, he embarked on what he dubbed "the first ever Project X from Planet 9 "He planted over 37 hectares of Corojo vines at Château de la Fuente. After several years of hard work and repeated failures, his tenacity was finally rewarded and, in 1992, the first Opus X cape leaves were harvested. With incredible finesse and an aromatic sweetness reminiscent of Cameroonian cape leaves, Opus X cape has earned the Fuente family recognition commensurate with its excellence.
Rosado cape
Used for the first time on the Arturo Fuente Magnum RThe Rosado wrapper is one of the most difficult cigars to produce. It is distinguished by its reddish hue and smooth, peppery aromatic profile. Grown in Ecuador using the Sun Grown method, this wrapper leaf is cultivated from a Cuban seed and picked at the bottom of the plant. It is also dried for a shorter time than most cape leaves, to obtain this Colorado Maduro color that leans towards pink. According to Carlito Fuente, this fat, finely-veined cape leaf adds complexity, roundness and balance to the "Magnum R" blend.
Candela cape
The Candela cape sheet is present on the module Arturo Fuente Claro 8-5-8. It is distinguished by its characteristic green color and aromas of green tea, cedar and pepper. Harvested before the tobacco plants reach maturity, Candela wrapper is heat-cured within 72 hours to preserve the plant's natural chlorophyll content. This process explains its distinctive green color, but also its rough appearance, which makes it more difficult to handle than most wrapper leaves.
Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro cape
Connecticut Broadleaf is one of the most popular cape leaves on the market. Originally grown on the fertile soils of the Connecticut River, it is now produced in countries such as Brazil, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Rougher-textured than Connecticut Shade, Connecticut Broadleaf is soft and oily to the touch. Grown in full sun, it is generally picked at the foot of the tobacco plants to guarantee extremely smooth aromas.
Appreciated for its sweet flavors, this cape leaf is characterized by notes of cedar, raisins, dark chocolate, blackcurrant, licorice, chestnuts and spices. It is found on many Arturo Fuente modules, such as the Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Flor Fina 8-5-8 Maduro and Arturo Fuente Curly Head DeLuxe Maduro. For its Anejõ lineArturo Fuente used a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro cape leaf aged for a year in cognac casks. This process accentuates the natural sweetness of the leaves, while adding balance and complexity to their aromas.
