Montecristo Edmundo (PCC Aged)

[planetary]

Thought I'd start taking some notes and offering up some thoughts.

Montecristo Edmundo (PCC Vintage stock), a 52x135 robusto
Box code: OPA AUG 09
Smoked on: April 4, 2017 (aged 7.7 years)
Bought: Via 24:24 on August 3, 2015.
Notes from El Prez: PSP: I only put up Montecristo Edmundo when I come across them like this. When they are at this standard (and it is not often), they are the closest thing in regular production to the Monte 520 that you will find. There is depth and richness to the flavour no doubt elevated by the stunning wrappers. Construction is flawless.

My review:

Appearance:   Colorado Claro, a bit lighter than most good Montecristos I've had. The wrapper is smooth and has retained a soft, oily sheen.

Construction and cut:  Overall very good. Slightly soft in places. Guillotine cut. Good draw.

Aroma at cold:  Brilliant. Alluring. Cocoa. Soft aged tobacco. Raisiny sweetness.

Body: Mild-Medium

First third:   Faint baking spices. Soft through the nose. Brioche buns. Light smoke. Finish is on the short side. A bit of cidar and Cuban saltiness. A touch of woody spice begins to appear -- not much, but it lingers on the palate.

Second third:   Room note is noticeably pleasant. The cocoa wavers between bittersweet and baker's chocolate. A bit of light coffee flavor, but without bitterness of any kind. Salty character increases somewhat. Aroma is evocative of the old stacks in a library. Very sensitive to smoking speed. Smoking too fast creates excess heat, which turns the light woody character into mushrooms.

Final third:   Cocoa at the core, and the brioche is now a mild baked sourdough. A gentle, settled palate of aged tobacco. Touch of anise. Return of cedar and a background of lightly creamed coffee. A delight to retrohale.

Last thoughts:   Excellent mellow cigar of moderate age. No great evolution, but hints and accents gradually shift, maintaining interest. Must be smoked at a gentle pace. Absolutely wonderful aromas. Montecristo to the core. Glad to have most of a box remaining in the humidor.

Rating: 90

[JohnS]

Great review @planetary! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[planetary]

1 minute ago, JohnS said:

Great review @planetary! Thanks for sharing it with us!

My pleasure, John.  I'm new at this!  Please offer suggestions, if you've got 'em!

[Ken Gargett]

just make it up. rob and i manage to get by doing that.

[jcorona]

Nice review. I got the feeling that the cigar didn't wow you, being aged that long.

[TheMonk]

Very nice job!

[Islandboy]

Well done, thanks! Although mine are in pre-school compared to yours, I concur completely with your “delight to retrohale” observation. I was just thinking exactly that with the last one I enjoyed.

[planetary]

20 hours ago, jcorona said:

Nice review. I got the feeling that the cigar didn't wow you, being aged that long.

Compared to some similarly aged Cohiba, it didn't enchant me in every respect.  I was honestly wavering between 88 to 90 through most of the smoke, but that it hung on in the final third and had a exceptionally good aroma and retrohale was enough to imply that it ticked all the significant boxes -- and edged into a 90, as opposed to an 89.

[Optic101]

Great review, thanks for sharing !

[planetary]

(Forked the ratings scale conversation to a separate post in the Water Hole.)