Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the VegaFina Fortaleza 2 Reposado 10 Años is light brown and carries a lighter color surrounding the decently raised veins, creating a turtle shell effect. The seams are raised while the caps are well applied. There are two bands, with the primary being the traditional design for the brand. The foot band is actually a boot as it covers the foot opening as well. It denotes the line on the band portion and the brand logo on the foot covering. The aroma from both the wrapper and foot is a slightly sweet cedar. The pre-light draw brings cedar and light honey sweetness.

First Third

The cigar begins with lightly musty, toasted cedar and some light earth. At a quarter inch in, the cedar is quite detailed. At a half inch in, the mustiness picks up a bit. The retrohale is toasted cedar with light mustiness and earth. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with mustiness and earth a bit behind and now a light chalkiness in the background. The strength was mild-medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the toast level increases a bit. The retrohale is now musty, toasted cedar with earth and light chalkiness. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with the mustiness and earth a bit behind and light chalkiness in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the chalkiness picks up a bit and a light wood bitterness becomes present. The retrohale remains musty, toasted cedar with earth and light chalkiness. As the cigar wraps up, the profile is toasted cedar up front with earth, mustiness and chalkiness a bit behind and light wood bitterness in the background. The strength bumped up to medium.

Burn

The burn was fairly wavy throughout and required one touch-up to keep the wrapper in line. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with lightly musty, toasted cedar and some light earth. A light chalkiness joined in at the end of the first third. The second third saw the toast level increase. The final third saw a light wood bitterness join in. The VegaFina Fortaleza 2 Reposado 10 Años had an average and very linear flavor profile throughout. Just some slight fullness changes for the flavors, but not much more than that. Pretty in line with most of the European releases from the brand and not something I see myself returning to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.55

Cost/Point

N/A

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: VegaFina Fortaleza 2 Reposado 10 Años