Serie V Melanio LE 2021 and Anysbos wine pairing in a hidden cellar

You puff on the sixty ring gage anniversary edition and take your first sip of the white blend. The cigar is creamy rich, and the wine is five stars. Wine bottles line the cellar walls. The musky dampness complements the buttery honey wine scents. Country roads lead to hidden cellars for unique pairings. A pairing with the Serie V Melanio LE 2021 cigar and Anysbos wine in a hidden cellar.

You walk into the brick building winding your way around the counter. You walk toward the steps and walk into the hidden cellar. Smoke hovers above the long table. Two of the most boutique wines in South Africa are breathing on the table. The two hundred and fifty six-kilometre road trip is over too quick. But the pairing continues with subtle flavours that fill your palate.

How do you pair a Serie V Melanio LE 2021 cigar with Anysbos Disdit and Tesame wine?

A look into the Oliva Cigar brand,

Oliva Cigar Co.

Oliva Cigar Co. makes about 15 million to 16 million handmade cigars per year. The brand traces its history back to the tobacco fields of Cuba. That is where Melanio Oliva started growing cigar tobacco in the 1800s. His grandson Gilberto became a tobacco broker and left Cuba for Spain. He settled in Central America a few years later. In 1995, Oliva and his son Gilberto Jr. founded Oliva Cigar Co.

Before opening their factory, they made cigars within Nestor Plasencia's factory in Nicaragua.

The story of the Oliva Cigar Company goes back to 1886. Melanio Oliva first began growing tobacco in Cuba. The production of the cigars halted when he left to fight in the Cuban War of Independence. His operations resumed soon after his return, then changing hands to his son in the 1920s.

Times were not easy for the Oliva family, as communists took over the country. It was time to search for a better tobacco-growing situation. After time in Mexico, Panama, Honduras, and the Philippines, his family found the fertile ground of Nicaragua. Since the move, the family has become the second-largest growers of Cuban-seed tobacco.

The darker wrapper in Nicaragua

Ligero leaves receive a lot of direct sunlight from the top of the tobacco plants. The sunlight exposure results in a darker leaf. The leaf is thicker and smaller with concentrated flavour.

The three growing regions of Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa also impact the flavour and strength of the Ligero.

Oliva also innovated the Nub, a line of short thick cigars.

Oliva Cigar Factory and Expansion

The most popular cigars in the brand are all produced in Nicaragua. Some days the factory produces over 50,000 cigars in a single day. The brand popularity continues to increase worldwide.

The most significant breakthrough for the Oliva Cigar brand was back in 2006. They released the Oliva Serie V. Many cigar connoisseurs love the flavour of the cigar series. The range is a hit.

In 2012, the Oliva Cigars family decided to pay tribute to their founder. The Melanio cigar is a tribute to the first tobacco grower in the family. The cigar range stood apart from other cigars with the Sumatra seed wrapper grown in Ecuador.

The distinctive taste of Oliva Cigars comes with rich caramel and coffee flavours. The popularity pushed the Oliva brand to one of the top brands in Nicaragua.

In 2014, the company's Oliva Serie V Melanio Figuardo won Cigar of the Year. In 2016, J. Cortès Cigars, a Belgian company, purchased the brand.

Serie V Melanio LE 2021

Gauge 60

Size (mm) 101 , 4 inches

Wrapper Color Colorado

Wrapper Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder Nicaragua

Filler Nicaragua

Ring Gauge 60

Shape Short Gordo

Serie V Melanio LE 2021

The Oliva Serie V Melanio Edición Limitada 2021 is the newest Melanio. It's a 2021 exclusive cigar from Oliva. A yearly exclusive has become an annual tradition for the company.

It measures 4 x 60, a size used for its NUb brand. It uses the regular Melanio blend. An Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

Oliva made only Three thousand boxes for the world market.

Grab yours as soon as you can. Limited stock avialble. Available in boxes of 10 cigars or singles.

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021

The Oliva Serie V Melanio is a hand-rolled cigar using fermented Ligero leaves. The Ligero leaves have rich flavours. Five years in the making, this unique cigar will exceed your expectations.

The Serie V Melanio is full flavoured yet smooth. The aged Jalapa blend produces a particularly flavoured smoke.

Full spicy aromas

Nutty

creamy

sun-grown wrapper

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021 Dry Aroma

• Ground coffee

• Damp earth

• Wine cellar

• Rum and maple

• Cocoa

• Subtle fruit

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021 Dry Draw

The dry draw is creamy and light. The easy draw from a v-cutter gives rum and fruit flavours.

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021 First Puff

The nutty flavours are prominent but balanced. The first puff is creamy smooth with hints of toasted almonds. Light cocoa flavour joins the toasted nutty flavours.

Anysbos Wines

Johan and Sue Heyns bought two pieces of land in the Botrivier Valley in 2007. Today known as Anysbos. The name Anysbos originates from the Anysboegoe that grows in the Overberg. Sue explained that the name Anysbos comes from an aniseed-scented, pink flowering herb. The herb grows in the Overberg and on the farm.

Farming is Johan Heyns third career. First a lawyer, then a filmmaker and now a farmer. Sue's comes from the IT industry. It and farming combined creates flow.

Anysbos vineyards

The Overberg countryside delivers photo moments during the entire day. Anysbos lies South-West of Gabriëlskloof, Johan Heyns brothers farm.

They built dams and planted around 20,000 olive trees. The olive oil is exceptional.

Impatient for the olives to bear fruit, Johan started making cheese. He established a small Toggenburg stud and goat herd.

The farm setting is bliss.

Johan Heyns left the big city life and the movie industry in Johannesburg ten years ago. A stark contrast from the 320-hectare farm in the countryside.

He planted Grenache Noir vines in 2012 on very rocky soils as dryland bush vines. Shiraz and Cinsault followed, adding Rhône cultivars added each year. These include Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne. Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc also grow on the farm.

Overberg Winemaking Lessons

Johan Heyns explains a few valuable lessons learned over the past ten years on the farm.

• The Northwestern brings rain but also blows the blossoms of the olive trees.

• Clay-based soils hold their moisture longer but tear off the micro roots of the plants when it gets hot.

• If there are too few stones, the soil gets marshy, and too much water disappears.

• Water from sandstone is good, but water from shale is too salty.

• "I learned that olives need more water than vines." Johan Heyns, Anysbos Owner

A farmer will make mistakes. But you have to learn from your mistakes. Some vineyards need more water, and others produce a crop with only the rain that falls.

Johan had to remove some vines because the soil was too salty. As a wine farmer, you have to find ways to overcome the salinity.

The help and advice from the winemakers of the region helped a lot. You have to be open to learning regional secrets from your staff. Every winemaking area contains a history of knowledge.

Johan found a use for the invasive Port Jacksons. They chop them down, chip them, and spread the chips in the vineyards as mulch. That keeps the moisture in and the weeds out and increases the quality of the wines.

Anysbos Wine Awards

Platter's by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2022 results.

Anysbos Tesame Red

The Tesame 2019, the maiden red blend, received its first 5-star rating.

Anysbos Disdit White

Disdit 2020 received 93 points and 4.5 stars.

Marelise Anysbos Winemaker

Marelise, known for her minimal intervention approach, puts terroir first.

"Showing the delicacy of winemaker Marelise Niemann's touch, this is a scented, refined, dryland blend of Grenache, Syrah and a splash of Cinsault. Rose petal, Turkish Delight and wild strawberry flavours framed by subtle oak, filigree tannins and bright acidity."

by Tim Atkin

Marelise achieved incredible results with Anysbos. And two five star awards for two Momento wines at the Gabriëlskloof cellar. She works with an excellent viticulturist Quintus Le Roux, and his team.

In winemaker Marelise words, "5-star vineyards make 5-star wines."

"It is ten years. We are looking forward to the next ten." - Anysbos

Anysbos Wine Tasting

I was eager to taste the two wines.

Anysbos Disdit White Blend

A white blend with Chenin, Rousanne, Grenach blanc and Marsanne.

Anysbos Disdit Wine aroma

The wine has a waxy fried buttery scent present while swirling your glass. Hints of guava, mango and dried fruit are present.

Anysbos Disdit Wine Taste

The wine is super balanced. The flavours are subtle, with hints of honey and a crisp waxy character. The white wine in the warm cellar light appears buttery yellow in your glass. The white wine has an elegant vibrant character.

Anysbos Tesame Red Blend

A red blend with Grenache Noir, Shiraz and Cinsaut.

Anysbos Tesame Red Blend aroma

The red wine delivers scents of damp earth, cherries and raspberries. The flavours blend with light cinnamon ginger spice.

Anysbos Tesame Red Blend Taste

The red blend wine tastes velvet smooth with cherries and fruit jam hints.

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021 and Anysbos Disdit pairing

The pairing is a taste sensation. The cigar and white blend pairing deliver chocolate fondant with berry jam flavours.

It's a rich cocoa and fruity taste experience. As the wine warms in the glass, it delivers more ripe peach flavours.

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021 and Anysbos Tesame Red Blend Pairing

The red blend lifts the cocoa flavours in the cigar. With a new puff, the cigar develops more nuttiness. It is a cherry biscuit pairing with cocoa and nutty flavours that linger.

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021 cigar Evolution

The cigar develops flavours of chocolate powder into the middle. The cigar construction is perfect throughout the entire smoke. I never had to relight while puffing slow. The ash is tight with an easy draw.

It is a full-flavoured cigar without being too full-bodied.

Pairing Conclusion

It's not every day that you get to pair a cigar and wine in a wine cellar. Never mind a hidden cellar in Dullstroom. If you find yourself craving a city escape. All roads lead to Dullstroom. You will find Pickles and Things on the main road with a secret wine cellar. The table seats many.

The pairing is a blend of cocoa with toasted macadamia nuts and fried butter. The white wine lifts the buttery flavours, and the red wine enhances the cocoa taste.

February is attention. Many cigars and wines crave your attention, but these two brands own it.

You don't need a road trip for this pairing.

Limited wine and cigar stock,

If you want to light up a full-flavoured cigar leaving you wanting more,

Click the link below.

Light up a 

Oliva Serie V Melanio LE 2021