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Vermutpedia

Rojo

Valladolid

Red · Medium-sweet

Vermut Sansón Rojo

Bodegas Peñascal (Grupo Bodegas Palacio 1894)

Valladolid , España

6.2 /10

Vermutpedia Score: 6.2/10

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Overall impression

Vermut Sansón Rojo is the sole active reference of a brand whose legacy dates to 1876 and aromatised wine production in solera in DOP Málaga, according to bodegaspenascal.es. Rescued by Bodegas Peñascal — Grupo Bodegas Palacio 1894 — it is born from a centenary family recipe made in Laguna de Duero (Valladolid) with delicate infusion of botanics, flowers and seeds. Peñascal presents it as vermouth of a lifetime: accessible, traditional and designed for aperitif without pretensions. 15% vol., 75 cl. For Vermutpedia, it represents the oldest Castilian-Leonese vermouth by recipe in current production: semisweet, herbal and very much of the bar, verifiable on Sansón's official website.

Nose and palate

Dark garnet colour. The house describes a nose rich in nuances with clean, balanced bitterness: spiced, with touches of citrus, liquorice and sweet anise. On the palate, broad, long sensation; citrus and herbs predominate, with wormwood bitterness bringing pleasant, tasty aftertaste without drying or astringent sensation. Soft texture, round passage, balance between semisweet sweetness and herbal freshness. It does not seek barrel complexity: it is direct, easy-drinking vermouth coherent with the official tasting sheet at bodegaspenascal.es/sanson/. A traditional profile for palates accustomed to classic Spanish vermouth.

How to serve it

Sansón works very cold or with ice and orange peel — the natural format of traditional aperitif in the usual bar. Serve between 6 and 8 °C in wide glass or low cup; orange enhances citrus and liquorice in the profile. Also in simple soda or siphon combinations when semisweet red vermouth without cloying is wanted. Pairs with olives, crisps, pickles and bar tapas. It does not require elaborate cocktail: it is social aperitif and economical replenishment. For Vermutpedia, Sansón Rojo is the Valladolid option in reduced litreage — 75 cl — for anyone wanting to try a documented centenary recipe from Peñascal.

Production context

Bodegas Peñascal built its reputation in Málaga in 1876 and moved to Tudela de Duero (Valladolid) in 1973, according to official group history. Sansón makes red vermouth through infusion of botanics, flowers and seeds on wine base; 15% vol., 75 cl. It is the sole active Sansón modality: no white or reserva in catalogue. Peñascal highlights its bet on quality aromatised wines within the Ready to Drink range. Contains sulphites. For Vermutpedia, Sansón Rojo synthesises Castilian-Leonese vermouth of tradition: 1876 recipe, Valladolid elaboration and semisweet profile verifiable at bodegaspenascal.es/sanson/.

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