Fresh off the news of two new additions, there appears to be a nearing release date for one of Dion Giolito’s other projects. For the past few years, Giolito’s retail store, FUMARE in Reno, NV, has had a link to a project called “La Grande Classe,” which translates to “the great class/order” in a couple languages, notably French, Italian, Latin and Spanish. (Note: there are a few different translations for each word.) It is described as limited run of small batch blends from the man best known for Illusione. While the project is not new, there appears to be some new artwork and a message on the FUMARE website indicating, “COMING JULY 2012.”

La Grand Classe July 2012

In addition, Giolito has used the Latin phrase, “pauca sed bona,” which according to Google translates to “but a few good.” Also, a tax stamp now appears on the website looking like this:

La Grande Clase

Below the art are two messages from Giolito:

“Many unique tobaccos can be sourced. Some yields can produce cigars in the millions, whereas some of the most desirous, exquisite and flavorful tobaccos sourced can only produce just a handful of cigars.”
– Dion Giolito — illusione cigars

And:

Introducing ‘La Grande Classe.’ Like many rareities in gem market, so is La Grande Classe Cigars – an exclusive of F U M A R E . Each batch of exquisite cigars will be a limited run of sizes and blends created by lauded blender Dion Giolito. All tobaccos will be personally chosen from the finest fields in Nicaragua, graded and aged for superior performance. La Grande Classe gives the client unprecedented access to a true small-batch run of cigars made with superior grade tobaccos in both unique sizes, and different flavor profiles. Le Grande Classe is an extremely rare product at the highest caliber of performance, flavor and construction. To get on the list, please e-mail your Full Name, and shipping address to: [email protected]
Dion Giolito -Le Grand Classe Cigars

Giolito did not respond to a request regarding the status of the project.

One interesting note is what appears to be a discrepancy amongst the first part of the name with some messages reading Le, while others, including the tax stamp and top of the website referring to it as La.

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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.