CAO Italia Novella

Im Italian, so when I saw this in my local cigar shop I picked it up knowing nothing about it. Let it chill in my humi for a little over a month. In the meantime I saw CA's rating of it and made me even more delighted I picked it up. Great smoke, nice construction, beautiful band. A bit stronger than I normally like to smoke, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It may have been ethnic pride, but I ordered a box after I was done smoking it. Held its ash well, and had a lot of nice smoke. The wife didnt care for the aroma, but it tasted good on my end. Cut beautifuly, burned evenly and great draw. The only reason I tossed this one early is because my wife was beconing me... if you know what I mean.... wink, wink

This small but well-made cigar has a good wrapper and a colorful band. No. 13 in Cigar Aficionado's top 25 cigars of 2006. It smokes well with a good draw and burn. It has a deep leathery flavor and a unique peppery spiciness, with some black cherry on the finish. And unlike the more recent C.A.O. releases, the price on these is relatively under control. A very good and satisfying short smoke.

This is a winner by CAO a good medium plus maduro with a nice maduro flavor, this one competes with the Piranha as their best corona sized cigar, has a nice earthy flavor that doesn't offend and has that nice sharp burn that CAO is noted for, price could be cheaper though.

Sorry about the previous reviewer, I hate it when flavor fades. With that said, my smoke didn't seem to have any problems. It was pretty much what I expected throughout. Next up is the brazil line

This cigar starts out as one of the most tasty/flavorful sticks I've ever smoked. Thats no exaggeration. With each subsequent hit, it gets less and less satisfying until you reach the midway point and it turns into a ghost of its former self.

I am clueless about the mechanics of cigar blending, I have no idea why this cigar line (this happens with all the Italia sizes) does what it does but its a crying shame. If the flavor could maintain itself throughout the length of the cigar I would smoke 2 of these a day.

I've noticed the Novella seemed to last a tad longer flavor-wise than the big Piazza did. I'm not sure if the size has anything to do with it but thats about the only differences I can note. At least with this one there is less waste as the first 25% is worth smoking. Toss the rest.