Calvet Reserve, Bordeaux, France

Every once-in-a-while, everyone needs some time with a good friend. Maybe you play some basketball, maybe you go to a movie, or maybe, like me, you sit with a good cigar and a bottle of wine. No matter the "indulgence" (shall we say) the intent is the same: to share time with the ones we love.

 Tonight I was lucky enough to do exactly that.

 Rocky Patel produces some exquisite cigars, of which the "The Edge: Square" would most definitely be one... I smoked this cigar for over 30 minutes and was only half-done, it was smooth and full of rich nuanced flavors, tightly rolled and a genuine pleasure. Rocky Patel produces no mediocre cigars, and I have always treated them as the special occasion they are (no matter how frequently I may smoke them).

 At the current rate of under $3/ cigar (http://www.holts.com/ has them on sale for a box of 50 for under $150), these are a pleasure you can enjoy any day of the week. I was lucky enough to have them included in a sampler pack sent to me, and will enjoy ordering them again.

Rocky Patel, The Edge "Square"

Country of Origin: Honduras

Strength: Full

Wrapper: Corojo, Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

 But the cigar was only part of the evening. Just as important was the wine, and tonight we shared a bottle of Calvet Reserve, 2009; Merlot- Cabernet Sauvignon. 

 One of the things I really appreciated about this wine was its approachability; easy to drink as soon as we opened the bottle, that doesn't always happen with Bordeaux wines. My theory is that this is mostly Merlot based, perhaps around 70 to 80%, because it is so supple and full or rich body (and drinking so easily so young). The Cab-Sauv is there for some structure and a bit more layering of the perfume. Smart way to make Bordeaux style wine if you want it to drink early.

 Of course, no one could ever think of Maison Calvet as being anything less then savvy wine people. The infamous Emile Paynaud (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Peynaud) started with them at the tender age of 15 in 1927... Emile was not only a brilliant eonologist but was also decidedly full of common-sense, a sometimes rarity in the wine (or any other) industry.

  Emile brought many new ideas to winemaking (eonology): picking fruit when it was fully ripened, selective picking, accelerating the speed from picking grapes to actual fermentation, and what may have been the most controversial at the time - using malolactic fermentation as a technique and not viewing it as a mistake. These and many other reasons are why Decanter Magazine (http://www.decanter.com/) named him "Man of the Year" in 1990, and deservedly so.

2009 Calvet Reserve, Bordeaux, France

Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon

13.5% ABV, $16 CAD  **Very Good Value**

(http://www.bcliquorstores.com/)

• visual:   clean; deep plum-garnet core with slight cherry rim
• nose:   clean; moderate+ intense youthful aromas of cherry, blackberry and cassis, light hints of old leather, dark florals like irises, dark roses, some green peppercorn at the end
• palate:   clean; dry, moderate+ (red currant) acids, moderate+ (dry chalky) tannins, moderate ABV, moderate+ body, moderate+ intense youthful flavors of red and black currants, red and black raspberries, light nuances of old leather, some dark florals and light peppercorn at the end of the palate. Good balance and structure, short to medium length.
• conclusion:   Well thought out and executed value wine. This doesn't express much of Bordeaux, but is imminently drinkable for $16 which can't be said for alot of wine in that price-range. Drink now or hold for up to 18 months, will not improve with aging
• PAIRINGS: Classic Steak Tartare; the bit of Cab-Sauv wants some beef flavors to marry against, but the soft Merlot doesn't want too intense flavors. The moderate acids will love a touch of fat, and because it's an easy drinking wine its a good way to start a meal rather then use during main course. Want it for a simple dinner? Pasta bolognese - or as I'm doing tomorrow, some rich and robust lazagna!

As always, I welcome and value your comments.

CINCIN~!!!     SLAINTE~!!!     CHEERS~!!!

Rocky Patel "1990" Vintage Cigar

A celebration.

No matter what sense the word is used in, whether it be to "observe a day or commemorate an event" or "to make known publicly or proclaim" or even "to praise widely...", yesterday was a celebration for me. (many thanks to http://dictionary.com/ )

I saw the first photos of my daughter, Clare Elizabeth, still in her momma's tummy and it - she - was beautiful. I say it because the moment itself was as beautiful as my daughter is. And both beauties (my wife and daughter) are worthy of celebration.



Rocky enjoying his handiwork



But how does a chef/sommelier-in-training celebrate? Well much like any man, I imagine: a good friend, a good cigar and a good drink. The friend was a fellow wine-geek, the cigar was Rocky Patel 1990 Vintage and the drink was a 30-year sherry. Well, perhaps I don't celebrate like every other man - but there must be one or two with good taste.

Rocky Patel 1990 Vintage cigar was also created to celebrate an event: celebration of Rocky's vision and passion for excellence as realized in the Rocky Patel label and Rocky's first cigar bearing his name. Pretty cool stuff that - a man finally having something that really is his creation, his labor of love. I realize though, that if my wife (Mrs AStudentofWine) is reading this, she will be scoffing at any notion that puts the words "man" and "labor" together .

Rocky Patel 1990 Vintage

http://www.rockypatel.com/

$12 USD, $35 CAD

wrapper: Honduran broadleaf, 12 years old

binder: Nicaragua

filler:  Nicaraguan and Dominican

92 points http://www.cigaraficionado.com/

• visual:   visually stunning: perfect construction with dark chestnut brown exterior. Flawless burn, absolutely even and holds firm forever
• nose:   moderate+ to fully intense notes of chestnut, oak, light leather, toasted almonds, the usual RP coffee notes of dark espresso... definitely also developed as the cigar burnt
• palate:   moderate+ intense and fully developed, this is one of the most beautiful cigars of my life. I still remember the first time I smoked one two years ago and remember the day (it was that good). Palate mimiks the nose - enjoy the development of flavors. Extremely well balanced, this cigar doesn't need a drink to go with it and can be enjoyed solo. Brilliant structure and incredibly long length on the palate
• conclusion: One of the best cigars I've ever had. I will always consider the 1990 Vintage to be worthy of celebration
• PAIRINGS:   consider a well aged Armagnac or Scotch-Whisky... the peaty-smoky characteristics will play well off the cigars' deep coffee/nutty flavors

As always I appreciate and welcome your comments!

CINCIN~!!!     SLAINTE~!!!     CHEERS~!!!

Rocky Patel "Decade" 10th anniversary

10 years in the business of making fine cigars... for some families that's a drop in the bucket, but everyone started somewhere. Rocky Patel started with a vision of uncompromising quality in 1993, and many industry people thought (or possibly wished) that he wouldn't make it to the 10-year mark.

     Fortunately for us, the consumers, they were wrong. Not only has Rocky Patel managed to continue making cigars in the manner they wanted, but they've broken some records for quality and created a loyal following around the world. I read on their website http://www.rockypatel.com/ that Rocky visited over 600 cities in 750 days... madly passionate about his business? Either that or he's dying to reach a new level of frequent-flyer-miles.

     So there he is, Rocky has reached the decade mark in his business: does he rest on his laurels and enjoy some well-deserved rest? Why no sir-ee, he creates a celebratory brand, Decade 10th Anniversary, which proceeds to peak at a new high for quality scoring by http://www.cigaraficionado.com/ of 95 points for the Torpedo. 95 points is one of the highest ratings for any cigar. Ever.

     I love a good cigar as much as any man, more then some I suppose, and yet I can't help but be filled with a touch of dread now. What can Rocky Patel possibly do for an encore at 20 years? I'm just joking of course, we all know that even now - Rocky is working through the night somewhere trying to figure out how to earn one more point... one more loyal follower on his quest for relentless quality. One more loyal customer.

     And that, dear friends, is how great businesses are made.

Rocky Patel "Decade" 10th Anniversary

$10 USD, $35+ CAD   **BUY THIS NOW**

Torpedo: 6.5*52

wrapper:   Sumatra

filler:         secret

binder:      secret

• visual:   smooth and sleek; a very tight roll with no imperfections, slightly glossy, burned evenly right down to the last 1" with a thick white ash that held firm
• nose:   moderate+ to fully intense and developed; rich dark coffee, dark cocoa, cedar notes, black pepper came in strong again at the half-way point but was creamy and balanced. Very similar notes to the Velvet Edition, just more developed and better balance
• palate:   almost exactly the same as the nose, with the addition of a slight jalapeno spiciness in addition to black peppercorn; I would add that there was never a "hot" sensation - brilliant balance and construction
• conclusion:   Brilliant value for the money, this is without a doubt one of the best cigars I've ever smoked. I will smoke this again, and share with only the best of my friends
• PAIRING:   Madiera... an excellent fortified wine coming from Portugal, or Marsala coming from Sicily. Rich nuanced dried fruit flavors will play off the coffee notes, the extended sugar will balance the black peppercorn and slight jalapeno on the palate. Both also run about 20% ABV and will not aggravate the spicy qualities as a 40% spirit most definitely will (and possibly throw it out of balance)

     Rocky Patel. A man and a company with vision. My only serious question is succession: all great companies are designed so that if the leader steps down, the quality will stay the same. Who is being groomed at Rocky Patel so that Rocky can start to enjoy his well-earned rewards?

Rocky Patel enjoying life



     As always, I welcome your comments.

CINCIN~!!!     SLAINTE~!!!     CHEERS~!!!

Rocky Patel Velvet Edition

"Rocky" Rakesh Patel is a great story; the man, the company and of course the cigars... and all my readers know that I love a good story.

     So the story starts with an entertainment lawyer - the most unlikely of all heroes. But hero to me he most certainly is, and for all of the same reasons that I have heroes in the wine industry and the culinary industry. Rocky is a man who is devoted to quality. He insists on it, and will accept nothing less. As I said, a hero.

     In the 1990's Rocky was an entertainment lawyer to such film giants as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gene Hackman, and as they are cigar lovers, he ended up developing an appreciation. Appreciation turned to devotion, and to a magnitude far outstripping that of most cigar devotees: he sold his law practice and spend 5 years studying the craft and trade of cigar manufacturing in Honduras. The man was willing to do anything to learn, even working the fields and in the barns (as is to be expected from any self-respecting perfectionist).

     Cut to 2002 when he re-branded his cigar company as "Rocky Patel" ( http://www.rockypatel.com/ )and then in 2003 when he launched his uber-sensations the 1990 vintage and 1992 vintage. Both were immediate successes both in the media (rated 90 points for both) and in sales. Rocky Patel has declared himself and his company as standing for unwavering quality, and, he succeeded. I have smoked both cigars (reviews to follow at a later date) and they are definitely a premium product.

     And now we fast-forward to 2011, when the owner of a $25 million per year business travels over 300 days of the year to promote his products... which I can understand. He must be naturally proud of what he and his CrackerJack team have accomplished in such a relatively short period of time; there are cigars companies who have tradition running generations, and yet seem not to have found such a solid base of quality and acceptance in the marketplace. And what a different market it is now compared to only 20 years ago when Rocky first started!

     The mid-1990's were arguably the modern hay-day for cigar aficionados. Cigars were plentiful and cigar-rooms were everywhere! It seemed a man couldn't walk into a pub, bar or upscale lounge without seeing a humidor and a fine scotch/whiskey/cognac menu to pair with the local offerings. Ah yes, them was the days... I actually walked into a local cigar shop (now closed) just as Arnold Governator was walking out, and looking quite pleased with himself as I remember. He was in town filming, and made a habit of stopping for the Cuban cigars he couldn't get back in California. My how the times have changed...

     Mrs Astudentofwine and I were in California 2 years ago in October, so that I could show her the Japanese Gardens in San Francisco in the Fall... a must if you haven't already done it. We were down the coast a little, in a town called Santa Barbera, which is a little sleepy in the Fall and perfect for romance. So anyways, we were walking the deserted beach and I was smoking a cigar - no one in sight. A fellow cycling past us stopped and told me I should butt out my cigar or I would get fined. "Haha - what kind of fine?" I asked. "$2000" he responded and kept going.

     Yes indeed, a very different world then it was 20 years ago. But Rocky Patel stays on the road and on top of his business. He is most definitely the face of Rocky Patel cigars, and is a not-so-subtle reminder that he is standing behind the quality of every cigar with his name on it.

Rocky Patel "Velvet" Edition

$8/ cigar     **EXCELLENT VALUE**

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Connecticut - Ecuador
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

• visual:   clean burn with an incredibly strong ash; I was driving at 70 km/hr and nothing was on my coat
• nose:   medium+ to fully intense; woodsy notes, dark rich coffee and some rich cocoa
• palate:   very smooth, rich, creamy start with moderate dark cocoa, dark espresso - then moving by mid-smoke into strong wood (cedar) some black peppercorn and that spice keeps up to the last 1" of the cigar
• conclusion:   In the States you can find these as low as $8/cigar which to me is a steal. In British Columbia we have prohibitive taxes, and these are going to run $30 to be certain... still worth it I say! I have never smoked a poor Rocky Patel, and the Velvet Edition is smooth, rich and nuanced.
• PAIRING:   All of the dark coffee and dark chocolate made me naturally turn to orange as a complimentary flavor: try Gran Marnier (either warm or on ice), and if you have the money and need a treat, experience the Gran Marnier Reserves (18 year, 25 year, 50 year). True, they are expensive, but they are some of the best value cognacs that you will ever find.

     A fantastic cigar, and I am finding myself quickly becoming accustomed to Rockys' devotion to quality. Other cigar companies may soon find themselves running to catch up to this new level of craftsmanship.

Rocky Patel on the factory floor

As always, I look forward to your comments!

CINCIN~!!!     SLAINTE~!!!     CHEERS~!!!