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Reus

Red · Artisan · Medium-sweet

Mercadal Vermut Negre Tradicional

Vinum Selecció

Reus , España

No score

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Overall impression

Mercadal Vermut Negre Tradicional is the red in the Mercadal range from Vinum Selecció (Reus), named for the central square where the city takes its vermouth. An artisan project with a new formula but traditional Reus spirit: maceration of flowers, roots and natural plants on local wines according to vinumseleccio.com. Balance between sweetness, bitterness and alcohol; Mediterranean and elegant profile. For Vermutpedia, it represents the red pole of Reus artisan vermouth: plaza culture, local botanicals and one-litre bar format verifiable at Vinum Selecció and distributors such as totvi.cat.

Nose and palate

Intense colour. Fine, elegant aromatics; balanced palate with some complexity according to distributors. Perfect balance of sweetness, bitterness and alcohol. On the nose, flowers and roots from the maceration bring Mediterranean herbal depth over local wines; on the palate, semisweet roundness with integrated bitterness and a medium finish that suits ice dilution. Compared with Mercadal Blanc, the Negre offers greater colour intensity and a darker herbal register; against Reserva Castanyer, it is fresher and less confit, without chestnut-barrel ageing. Texture is sociable and direct — vermouth for plaza aperitif rather than guarda contemplation. The equilibrium the winery claims is evident in a glass that works equally neat, with soda or in a simple Americano.

How to serve it

Cold as a plaza aperitif; the litre format is typical of Reus bar service. Serve very cold in a wide glass with ice, olive and optionally a citrus peel — the classic Catalan vermouth ritual. At ~€8.50 RRP through cooperative channels, it is designed for volume consumption in vermuterías and home terraces. Works with soda or siphon for a lighter session without losing herbal identity. Pairs with olives, conservas, embutidos and Reus tapas culture. Temperature between 6 and 10 °C. Not aimed at premium Negroni work: it is honest, social, plaza vermouth. For Vermutpedia, Mercadal Negre is drunk cold with ice in the Mercadal square spirit of Reus.

Production context

Made in Reus (Baix Camp) by Vinum Selecció. 15% vol., 1 L. Siblings: Mercadal Blanc Tradicional and Reserva Castanyer. Artisan botanical maceration of flowers, roots and plants on local wines; no barrel ageing declared. Documented at vinumseleccio.com/categoria-producto/vermut-mercadal/ and totvi.cat. For Vermutpedia, Mercadal Negre Tradicional synthesises Reus red vermouth: plaza name, Mediterranean elegance, litre format and cooperative pricing. Part of the Mercadal triad in the Vermutpedia catalogue.

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