The wrapper leaves that dress up cigars Arturo Fuente

Well-known to cigar aficionados, Arturo Fuente cigars never cease to amaze with their innovative, perfectly balanced blends and flawless construction. As a result, they are among the most sought-after cigars in the world, and brilliantly embody the richness of the Dominican terroir. Until 1995, the Fuente family built its reputation on the quality of its blends. With the creation of Opus X, they exceeded all expectations and became the first cigar manufacturer to produce top-quality Dominican wrapper leaves. In this article, we invite you to discover the wrapper leaves that have contributed to the success of Arturo Fuente cigars.

The Cameroon cape

Highly prized by high-end cigar makers, the Cameroon wrapper is distinguished by its mellow, sweet aromas and sawtooth appearance. It comes from Sumatra seeds and is produced exclusively in Sun Grown in the East Cameroon basin. Introduced by the Germans in the early 20th century, then developed by Seita from the 1950s onwards, Cameroon cape was saved from extinction in the early 90s thanks to the determination of Rick Meerapfel. Today, the Meerapfel family is the official supplier of Cameroonian capes for the Arturo Fuente brand.

Among Arturo Fuente cigars that use a Cameroon wrapper, the Arturo Fuente Hemingway and Arturo Fuente Don Carlos ranges are by far the most famous. Recognizable by their characteristic dark-brown color, these blends perfectly combine the sweetness of Cameroonian wrappers with the strength of Dominican tobaccos.

Fuente Fuente Opus X cape

If there's one Wrapper that embodies the passion and expertise of the Fuente family, it's the Opus X. First introduced in 1995, this Wrapper wraps one of the world's most sought-after cigars: the Fuente Fuente Opus X. The first Dominican puro to be marketed as "premium", this stick is considered by many to be the pinnacle of cigar perfection. In 2005, the Fuente Fuente Opus X Double Corona was voted "best cigar of the year" by Cigar Aficionado magazine, with a score of 95/100.

The story of the Opus X cape began in 1988, when the owner of the famous Paris-based Boutique 22 visited Château de la Fuente. Admiring the work of the Fuente family, he complimented Carlito on the quality of production. But he adds that the Arturo Fuente brand will never be considered one of the world's top brands, because the Fuente family simply assembles cigars rather than produces them. Piqued by this remark, Carlito Fuente set about designing cigars from scratch.

But at the time, no one had ever succeeded in growing quality cape leaves in the mineral-rich soil of the Dominican Republic. Many industry voices were quick to tell Carlito that his project would never come to fruition. But in his own words, "it's not the soil that creates exceptional tobaccos, it's the work of men". Determined to achieve this feat, he embarked on what he called " Project X from Planet 9 " and planted over 37 hectares of Corojo plants at Château de la Fuente. After several years' work and repeated failures, his tenacity was finally rewarded and, in 1992, the first Opus X cape leaves were harvested. With incredible finesse and an aromatic sweetness reminiscent of Cameroonian cape leaves, Opus X cape has earned the Fuente family recognition commensurate with its excellence.

Rosado cape

Used for the first time on the Arturo Fuente Magnum R line, the Rosado wrapper is one of the most difficult cigar wrappers to produce. It is distinguished by its reddish hue and smooth, peppery aromatic profile. Grown in Ecuador using the Sun Grown method, this Wrapper is cultivated from a Cuban seed and picked at the bottom of the plant. It is also dried for a shorter time than most cape leaves, to obtain this Colorado Maduro color that leans towards pink. According to Carlito Fuente, this fat, finely-veined Wrapper adds complexity, roundness and balance to the "Magnum R" blend.

Candela cape

The Wrapper Candela is featured on the Arturo Fuente Claro 8-5-8 module. It is distinguished by its characteristic green color and aromas of green tea, cedar and pepper. Harvested before the tobacco plants reach maturity, Candela wrapper is heat-cured within 72 hours to preserve the plant's natural chlorophyll content. This process explains its distinctive green color, but also its rough appearance, which makes it more difficult to handle than most wrapper leaves.

Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro cape

Wrapper Connecticut Broadleaf is one of the most popular capes leaves on the market. Originally grown on the fertile soils of the Connecticut River, it is now produced in countries such as Brazil, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Rougher-textured than Connecticut Shade, Connecticut Broadleaf is soft and oily to the touch. Grown in full sun, it is generally picked at the foot of the tobacco plants to guarantee extremely smooth aromas.

Appreciated for its sweet flavors, this Wrapper is characterized by notes of cedar, raisins, dark chocolate, blackcurrant, licorice, chestnuts and spices. It can be found on many Arturo Fuente modules, such as Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Flor Fina 8-5-8 Maduro and Arturo Fuente Curly Head DeLuxe Maduro. For its Anejõ line, Arturo Fuente has used a Wrapper Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro aged for a year in cognac casks. This process accentuates the natural sweetness of the leaves, while bringing even greater balance and complexity to their aromas.