Bellas Artes Maduro Gordo comes out of AJ Fernandez’s Esteli factory with a dark Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, Mexican San Andres binder, and Nicaraguan fillers that push the blend into full-bodied territory. The big 6 1/2 x 58 frame lets earth, mature tobacco, sweet cedar, creamy chocolate, espresso, and sweet spice settle in slowly and coat the palate. It has the kind of broad, chewy richness that maduro fans chase when they want extra depth from a larger ring gauge.
