FatherTiresius
Watcher of the Skies
- Joined
- May 4, 2002
- Messages
- 1,364
Mickey's big hand says it's time for a review. JoeM gifted me an aged OpusX to help me answer my own question about whether they're better aged or fresh. The short answer is yes. 
Fuente Fuente OpusX Petit Lancero (2000)
Panatela 6 3/4" x 39 ring gauge
Setting
Living Room with a bottle of 1989 Caymus Vineyards Special Selction and Life of Brian. (stwike him centuwion...vewy wuffwy) The wine was stunning. Big, huge California Cabernet - one of the top 3 or 4 Napa Cabernets. '89 wasn't a particularly great year but that's why I could afford this bottle. The wine still had tons of fruit and a nice anise flavor. Could have aged a few more years but was clearly at its prime.
Appearance
Exactly what you'd expect from an Opus - beautiful rosado wrapper, excellent construction, firm throughout. The wrapper itself gives off a spicy and woody aroma.
Pre-light
Snip goes the Xikar and I do a couple of cold draws. The draw is a little tight but not plugged. I get flavors of cinnamon and cedar and the wrapper gives me a tingly spiciness on the lips.
Taste
Right off the bat the flavors were nutty with some spice thrown in. The smoke volume was dense as a San Francisco fog bank. I was immediately struck by the difference between this and the fresh Opuses I've had. It was much mellower - not so in-your-face. This made a nice compliment to the wine because it had also lost that agressiveness it had in its youth. A woody component soon joined in and remained for the rest of the smoke. This turned more earthy toward the end. One thing I never picked up was the typical OpusX sweetness. Also the trademark spicy finish was somewhat muted.
Summary
Like a stone in a stream
Life smooths all our edges
'Til we barely make a ripple anymore*
That's what happened to this OpusX. Time has taken away its brashness; its edginess. But has replaced it with a mellow roundness that more than makes up for it.
[*Edwin McCain, Sorry To a Friend]
Fuente Fuente OpusX Petit Lancero (2000)
Panatela 6 3/4" x 39 ring gauge
Setting
Living Room with a bottle of 1989 Caymus Vineyards Special Selction and Life of Brian. (stwike him centuwion...vewy wuffwy) The wine was stunning. Big, huge California Cabernet - one of the top 3 or 4 Napa Cabernets. '89 wasn't a particularly great year but that's why I could afford this bottle. The wine still had tons of fruit and a nice anise flavor. Could have aged a few more years but was clearly at its prime.
Appearance
Exactly what you'd expect from an Opus - beautiful rosado wrapper, excellent construction, firm throughout. The wrapper itself gives off a spicy and woody aroma.
Pre-light
Snip goes the Xikar and I do a couple of cold draws. The draw is a little tight but not plugged. I get flavors of cinnamon and cedar and the wrapper gives me a tingly spiciness on the lips.
Taste
Right off the bat the flavors were nutty with some spice thrown in. The smoke volume was dense as a San Francisco fog bank. I was immediately struck by the difference between this and the fresh Opuses I've had. It was much mellower - not so in-your-face. This made a nice compliment to the wine because it had also lost that agressiveness it had in its youth. A woody component soon joined in and remained for the rest of the smoke. This turned more earthy toward the end. One thing I never picked up was the typical OpusX sweetness. Also the trademark spicy finish was somewhat muted.
Summary
Like a stone in a stream
Life smooths all our edges
'Til we barely make a ripple anymore*
That's what happened to this OpusX. Time has taken away its brashness; its edginess. But has replaced it with a mellow roundness that more than makes up for it.
[*Edwin McCain, Sorry To a Friend]
