Some cigars are easier to find than others. In the case of certain brands and blends, if a premium cigar smoker builds an affinity over time, they may go a bit further to get the cigars they really want to try. There are a lot of die-hard fans of RoMa Craft Tobac, and that is a credit not only to the quality of their cigars, but also to their ability as a company to build a dedicated following on social media. The Wunder|Lust made an impact when it was released exclusively in Europe back in 2016. When the Gran Corona vitola was released in 2019 the buzz online was almost palpable. This cigar also carries the name of RoMa Craft co-founder Skip Martin’s daughter, Fiorella. Here is Matt’s review of the Wunder|Lust Fiorella Gran Corona.
In addition to the Gran Corona reviewed here, the RoMa Craft Wunder|Lust is also available in a 5 x 50 Robusto, 4.625 x 54 Petit Belicoso, and a 6 x 52 Gran Toro. The cigars are not sold to brick & mortar shops in the United States, but are available from retailers in Europe, and some of those retailers will take your order and ship to the United States.
RoMa Craft Wunder|Lust Fiorella Gran Corona
MSRP: €8.00 ($9.10 USD on date of this publication)
Size: 5.625 x 46
Origin: Nica Sueño (Esteli, Nicaragua)
Wrapper: Brazil (Mata Fina)
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Undisclosed
Prologue
The Fiorella Gran Corona is the color of milk chocolate, and somewhat striated in coloration. The whole surface of the wrapper has a medium tooth and slight sheen of oil. It is very cleanly rolled. There is a little spicy aroma to the wrapper, along with some cedar as well. The foot also has spicy aromas, along with some sweetness and something that reminds me of vanilla. The cold draw is very bold, with spice on the lips and some kind of note that reminds me of a barnyard.
Act I
When lighting this cigar the first few puffs are have a very bold spice, with notes similar to red pepper and horseradish. That mellows within about a quarter inch and some deeper and richer notes start to enter the flavor profile. I am getting flavors and aromas similar to espresso, dark cocoa, and a very smooth texture on the back of the palate. There’s also a note that is a little salty and earthy, almost like soy sauce. The retrohale has a good combination of black pepper, with a kind of sweet finish that reminds me of licorice and has a lingering finish.
Act II
The center section of this cigar has a lot going on. I still get the black pepper, the espresso/cocoa, the earthiness, the saltiness, and the sweetness. With that core profile in place, I also sense things like molasses, burnt cedar, licorice, and a kind of dark malt richness. Even with all that going on, the texture and mouth feel of the smoke is still very smooth and thick. The aromas on the retrohale have a big twang of pepper in the nostril, along with a sweet kind of molasses finish.
Act III
The final section of this cigar is very intense and complex, and yet adds a kick of strength that seems to bring everything to completion. The rich notes of espresso, cocoa, and a slight earthy bitterness are balanced nicely by bright spices on the front of the palate like red and white pepper. I still have traces of charred wood, some dark molasses, and some saltiness like soy sauce. All of that stays wrapped up in some that is rich and smooth. In the final few puffs, the retrohale proves to be a bit too much, and I have to check in the mirror to see if I still have hair in my nostrils.
Epilogue
This cigar is not easy to get, but not impossible. I bought a box from a shop in Germany and split it with a couple friends. Although it was stuck in United States Customs over 3 months, the cigars arrived unscathed. This is one of the more complex blends that I have smoked in a long time, and maybe the favorite cigar that I’ve ever had from RoMa Craft. Each that I have smoked has been very well constructed with a nice draw and clean burn. The most surprising thing about this one was the overall smoothness factor. With the wide array of sweetness, earthiness, spice, and other notes, each one that I have smoked was made more cohesive by a very pleasant smooth feel and aroma.
RoMa Craft Wunder|Lust Fiorella Gran Corona – How Bout That Cigar?
Rating: How Bout A Box?
Overall Score: 94
PAD: +1.0 (What is PAD?)
Flavor Summary: Espresso, Cocoa, Spice, Earthiness, Wood, Dark Sweetness
Strength Assessment: Medium-Strong
Source: Cigars for this review were purchased by HBT Media LLC