Arturo Fuente Chateau Series Sun Grown Staff Review
“Where are your Fuentes?”
I cannot tell you how many times a day I would get that question when I worked in our retail store. I would also put money down that you have heard someone ask the same question if you have spent time in any premium cigar shop.
There are several reasons why everyone is looking for Arturo Fuente cigars. First off, Fuente cigars reflect “the bar” when it comes to quality and consistency. Secondly, they offer a large variety of blends. They have cigars for every type of cigar smoker in the world.
Today, I am reviewing one of the blends that made me fall in love with premium cigars in the first place: Arturo Fuente Chateau Series Sun Grown. The Chateau Series is available in three different wrapper options: Natural, Maduro, and Sun Grown. The original Chateau Fuente refers to the brand’s 4.5 x 50 dimensions.
Handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, Chateau Fuente Sun Grown boasts an immaculate wrapper grown in Ecuador. Underneath is a select blend of binder and filler tobaccos grown at the one and only Chateau de la Fuente estates in the Dominican Republic. Every cigar in the Chateau Series is wrapped in cedar. In fact, less than an inch of the wrapper is actually visible until the cedar sleeve has been removed.
A sweet bouquet of earth and spice is reveled after I take the cedar off. Notes of leather, cinnamon, and dried berries are present on the cold draw. Once I toast the foot and take the first few puffs, I know I am in for a good ride.
Chateau Fuente Sun Grown starts out with a bit of white pepper that quickly smooths into a profile of cedar, earth, and coffee bean notes. As the tobacco warms ups, notes of fresh ground coffee and berries emerge, adding an extra layer of depth to this fantastic smoke.
As I transition into the second half of the cigar, the flavor profile turns a bit sweet. There is almost zero spice left, while notes of berries and toffee take over. Hints of pepper and earth return in the final inch of Chateau Fuente Sun Grown, bringing the flavor profile full circle.
The construction is exactly what you would expect with any cigar made by the Fuente family: perfect. The char line was as straight as a ruler, while the draw had perfect resistance. The smoke production was ample, thick, and aromatic. The cigar’s strength is a solid 4 out of 10, putting this cigar right in that mild to medium-bodied category.
Over the years, I have smoked dozens of Chateau Fuente Sun Growns. A novice can easily enjoy this cigar, although I usually recommend the Natural version first. I will even recommend this cigar to the seasoned, full-bodied smoker as a “morning cigar,” because it pairs ideally with a cup of coffee when you’re starting the day.
