L’Atelier Cote d’Or La Tache 2016 Review

Cote d’Or La Tache 2016
Made by: L’Atelier
Country: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 1/2 by 50

The Cote d’Or 2015 release was quite a cigar, this is the new 2016 release just hitting shelves. Again it is boasting a Sancti Spiritus wrapper, it will be interesting to see how this release holds up. One of my favorite cigars  in general (the Special Selection LAT38) is produced under L’Atelier so I have high expectations. Lets see if this can impress as well, with a L’Atelier Cote d’Or La Tache 2016 Review.

Prelight

Medium veins, not a perfect wrapper but I can smell it before I even examine the foot. Visible seams, pretty good cap. The aesthetics of the cigar overall are pretty good, the foot ribbon adds to it. The notes coming off the foot are interesting, it reminds me of a snack I use to eat “fruit leather”. So naturally I expect notes of leather and the fruit seems to be mixed stone fruit. There is something else in there that’s unique, but I believe it will not appear until lit. Pretty good cut, definitely some loose tobacco though. Great even and slightly spongy pack, the prelight draw shows a good amount of pepper alongside the leather and fruit. Let’s get this lit up and see how it performs.

1/3

Easy to get lit up, tons of leather on the front there is a subtle sweet peach underneath, but that leather is very overpowering. The finish is a slightly bitter black pepper that wiped the rest of the flavors off the palette. Medium smoke production and medium smoke thickness. As I get toward the end of the first third there is a macadamia nut coming up in the center, leather is still on the front and I am still getting that low stone fruit undertone. The finish is holding solid black pepper. Flaky ash and the burn line isn’t perfect, it may need a touch up. The flavors seem to be shifting a bit, might be an interesting second third.

2/3

There was almost no tooth on this wrapper which seems to be keeping the smoke thickness down. Medium body and low strength. Almost a mild to medium body. It did need a slight touch up to the burn, seems to have fixed that. This is a lighter cigar with heavier flavors, it’s a good mix. The stone fruit came up a bit on the front alongside the leather. Salted cashew and macadamia nut on the center with a black pepper finish. Wishing the pack was a bit firmer, the cap area is getting quite soft as the cigar is burning down. The flavor profile is great that black pepper finish is the only detractor. Overall a pretty good blend so far. I was expecting more in the way of transitions, but it seems to be pretty consistent. Leather has regained dominance on the front as the fruit note falls. Macadamia nut is back up in the center and cashew has fallen. The finish did have a slight change, now it is a mix of white and black pepper. This blend is surprisingly low on distinct transitions.

3/3

The body has held at a medium and the strength is at a low to medium. Smoke production is still at a medium and thickness is also still a medium. The burn is great now, the ash is still pretty flaky. This has been a nice cigar, not something I would take to an event, but certainly very enjoyable for leisure time. The flavors have gone back almost identical to the start. Leather on the front, it has officially drowned out the fruit undertone. The finish is mixed macadamia nut and black pepper.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Conclusion: 87

This was a good consistent cigar, aside from the score this would probably be my top pick for a cigar that holds its profile. It was enjoyable, the black pepper actually was fitting to the rest of the notes. The softness of the cigar near the cap, while it hurts the construction score, is actually something I really enjoy. So in the end, as always try it and see if it fits your tastes. But this is worth a box purchase in my opinion. Leather without heavy cream isn’t a characteristic I pick up very often and it worked wonderfully in this release.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com