Cornell & Diehl Sansepolcro

Ok, so I see some great reviewers on here who get me imagining a lot.......In the dark fired realm I think I've had Navigator, GL Pease Jackknife Plug, and maybe one other I can't think of. I definitely know that type of taste.

I have to say its primarily in that ballpark. It's a stout flavor, but not as pronounced and strong. It's a bit more subtle then those. So, It's not quite as overwhelming as Kentucky dark Fired blends with that flavor. It's like a less strong dark fired Kentucky flavor with a lot of what I think is Red Virginia.

I absolutely love Red Virginia blends and this Italian dark fired tobacco doesn't completely overwhelm the Red Virginia taste I love. All the other dark fired blends I've tried are super flavorful with that and its hard to notice much else but that stout flavor in them. This Italian stuff isn't quite like that, so I would prefer it any day to those. It's still pretty stout though, just not as much as the Kentucky, if that makes sense.

If you like Red Virginia and would like a bit of dark fired mixed with it, that's about what I'd say this is like. I still get the Red Virginia though, so if you like Red Virginia blends, this really hits the spot there too.

If you like full bodied stuff, its still fairly strong and It's kind of nice for a nice after dinner smoke, not one I'd smoke on all day, or in the morning. It' not a complete favorite, but its nice to have in the rotation of Red Virginia blends, if that's your thing.

A nicely earthy blend, the rough cut, not quite a thick ribbon not quite a true broken flake, is slow-burning. Unlike some other reviewers, however, I found it pretty monochromatic. Unsurprisingly, a bit cigar-like at times, so those who favor those types of blends should give it a try. Ok as an occasional change of pace, not for my regular rebuys.

Sansepolcro is a well balanced sweet red Virginia and dark fired blend. The exceptional Italian dark fired varietal adds a good strength and spice, while the VA sweetens to just the right amount. A good nicotine medium blend that I find very satisfying. Wish I could have cellared a few tins, but glad I was still able to get one a few months after the release. In the right pipe, it'll make my mouth water. Smells excellent in the tin. I'm assuming it's the same red Virginia that was used in the Small Batch Carolina Red Flake, or very similar.

This is for the 2024 iteration.
Three things you must do to smoke this.
1. Eat a big meal
2. Sit down
3. Get a razor ready to cut the hair that will grow on your chest
Strong, strong, strong.
I like it. I like the flake cut. But wow is it strong.

I am reviewing tin 1189/8000 from the 2020 batch. The smell of tobacco in its container is very light, primarily virginia and slightly cigar leaf. It comes with the right point of humidity for direct loading, even a little on the dry side.

Once the pipe is lit, the Kentucky looks very well balanced with the other tobaccos and is the type that I like. To give the reader an idea, it's not in the style of Mac Baren's Old Dark Fired or Lakeland Dark or SG's 1792 (mixtures all stronger than this one). Certainly, as some review has said, there is a similarity with Jacknife Plug and although I have not tried Savinelli's 140º, I have smoked the 145º of the same brand and there is also a similarity in the use of dark fired Kentucky, although in the latter case, the 145º is more “perfumed”.

Either way, Sansepolcro has its own personality, largely thanks to the addition of the cigar leaf that makes it different and compatible with the Jacknife Plug. -G.L. Pease-, as well as having a slightly spicier flavor. It has body and robustness. I really enjoy smoking it accompanied by a good whiskey. Four stars and a toast to C & D "small batch" mixtures.

When you open the tin you find a nice broken flake tobacco. I can only smell the Virginia, grass, wood, raisins, and floral notes, also a little of fermentation kind of smell.

Once lit it delivers a velvety dry smoke, with sweet, bread, hay, earthy flavors, very consistent flavor. I also detect some honey, brown sugar, cinnamon and nut notes. It gets more piquant as you go down the bowl. I get bread, hay, earthy, citrus, raisin and sweet notes from the red Virginias. The florets give toasty sweetness, woodsy and floral notes along with nuts, black pepper and cardamom flavors. Half the way down the bowl it gets sweeter, and some raisin/dark fruits flavors appear. These Florets from Sansepolcro are unique, they are not very toasty like regular dark fired Kentucky and not so sweet and smooth like Rattray´s dark fired Kentucky. They are more floral, and exotic. Very similar smoking experience to a Toscano Cigar.

It lights very well and burns cool and clean, perfect moisture level out of the tin, and tongue byte free. The nic-hit is a little more than medium level. It leaves a pungent room note (grass, pepper and slightly sweet). Not an all-day smoke in my HO, suitable for the end of the day smoke, very satisfying.

Another one I got as a small sampler, while determined to try new tobaccos. My first thought, was ooh that's a bit stronger than I expected. Felt the nicotine buzz quite a while before the bowl was finished. It was worth trying for sure, but it won't lure me away from my usual aromatics. Out of the handful of non-aromatic samples I tried over the last 2 weeks or so, this is probably the one I'd least likely want to try again. I just didn't see any reason to choose this one over Hyde Park or Shanna's Blend 2.0 for example.

Its good blend its the best very smooth as Rattarys and WhiteKnight Its really simple and easy and wish its just didn't finish thats all twink