Inner Circle Domain Rouge Toro by Cavalier Genève

Today, we review the Inner Circle Domaine Rouge in the Toro size by Cavalier Genève. The Domaine Rouge was introduced in 2023 as the second blend under Cavalier’s Inner Circle brand. Inner Circle as a brand was introduced in Cavalier’s portfolio in 2022. The name Inner Circle pays homage to the people who have been on board with Cavalier Genève since the beginning. Inner Circle also has an all-new look compared to the eponymous Cavalier brand. This line does not feature Cavalier’s signature 24k gold diamond on the wrapper.

While Domaine Rouge refers to Cavalier’s red-painted Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco SA production facility in Honduras, it also extends the story of Inner Circle. As the first Inner Circle release did, Domaine Rouge pays homage to the people who influenced the history of the company; in this case, a tribute to Cavalier Genève founder Sebastien Decoppet’s father, Pascal Decoppet, who passed away in 2021.

For now, let’s break down the Inner Circle Domaine Rouge Toro and see what this cigar brings to the table.

Inner Circle Domaine Rouge Toro by Cavalier Genève – Cigar Review

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

The blend of Domaine Rouge features a Habano wrapper from the Jamastran Valley over a Connecticut binder. The fillers are Habano from the Jalapa region of Nicaragua, Habano from the Jamastran Valley of Honduras, and Paraguayan tobacco. While Paraguayan tobacco is not a very common tobacco used, it has been used by Cavalier Genève before – most notably in its White Series line. Production comes from the Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco SA in Danlí, Honduras.

Wrapper: Habano Jamastran Viso
Binder: Connecticut
Fillers: Habano Jalapa Viso, Paraguay Viso, Habano Jamastran Viso
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco SA (FCT)

Vitolas Offered

Domain Rouge comes in four sizes – each presented in 24-count cabinet boxes.

Petit Robusto: 4 1/2 x 50
Robusto Grande: 5 x 54
Toro: 6 x 52
Figurado: 6 x 52

Appearance (*)

The Domaine Rouge Toro’s Habano wrapper had a distinct rosado tint. There was a slight amount of oil on the wrapper’s surface, some visible veins, and some visible wrapper seams.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw (*)

Before lighting the Domaine Rouge Toro, the cap was removed by a straight cut. Once the cap was removed, it was time for the pre-light draw ritual. The cold draw delivered a combination of baker’s spice, natural tobacco, and earth. This was a satisfactory pre-light draw experience. At this point, it was time to toast up the Domaine Rouge Toro and head into the smoking phase.

Tasting Notes

The Domaine Rouge Toro opened with notes of natural tobacco, earth, and a slight black pepper note. In addition, there were a couple of more unconventional notes—namely vegetal and chalk. While these two notes don’t sound exotic, they actually contributed nicely to the flavor profile. The natural tobacco notes and vegetal notes became primary early on.

The natural tobacco notes became more dominant as the Domaine Rouge Toro moved into the second third. The vegetal notes settled in the background with the earth, chalk, and black pepper notes. During this third of the cigar, there also was a gradual increase in the black pepper component on the tongue.

In the final third, the natural tobacco notes remained prominent. The pepper became more noticeable as a secondary flavor but was not overpowering. Meanwhile, the vegetal, earth, and chalk notes complemented the finish of the Domaine Rouge Toro. The resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn

The Domain Rouge Toro maintained a straight burn line and burn path, but multiple touch-ups were required to do so. While the touch-ups did the trick, the Domain Rouge Toro required more touch-ups than I preferred. The resulting ash was silver-gray. This was an ash skewed more toward the looser side. Meanwhile, both the burn rate and burn temperature maintained ideal levels.

Draw

The Domaine Rouge Toro’s draw was excellent. It had a touch of resistance. If you have read many of my assessments, you will know this is a personal preference for my draw. At the same time, the Domaine Rouge Toro was a low-maintenance cigar from which to derive flavor.

Strength and Body

The Domaine Rouge Toro opened up with medium strength and medium-bodied flavors. For the duration of the smoking experience, the cigar remained in the medium range of the spectrum for both attributes. In terms of strength versus body, both attributes balanced each other nicely, with neither attribute overshadowing the other.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)

One thing that is very important when a company establishes a new brand is to separate it from the existing brands. Cavalier Genève did this exceptionally well with the Inner Circle. I like what was done with Inner Circle Domaine Rouge. It features the branding of Inner Circle but incorporates red instead of blue.

A large decal wraps the cabinet-style box, acting as an additional sealant. What I like about it is that it gives the box some color. The 1956 references are to the year Pascal Decoppet was born.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

The Domaine Rouge Toro is a fine addition to the Inner Circle brand and the Cavalier Genève portfolio. The Domain Rouge offers a distinct blend from its counterpart, the Inner Circle. The cigar primarily features natural tobacco notes, but the complementary flavors also make a noticeable impact. This creates a unique overall blend that keeps the smoker engaged from beginning to end. Ultimately, I highly recommend the Domaine Rouge Toro for both novice and experienced cigar enthusiasts. As for myself, it’s a cigar I would buy and smoke again. It’s also a cigar I look forward to smoking the other sizes of.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Vegetal Notes, Chalk, Earth, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good