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Botella de Vermut Saüc Rojo 75 cl, vermut rojo artesanal de Malvasía con etiqueta vintage de Muro d'Alcoi
Rojo

Muro de Alcoy

Foto: Celler La Muntanya

Red · Reserve · Artisan · Medium-sweet

Vermut Saüc Rojo

Celler La Muntanya

Muro de Alcoy , España

8.6 /10

Vermutpedia Score: 8.6/10

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Overall impression

Vermut Saüc Rojo is the red expression of the Saüc range from Celler La Muntanya (Muro de Alcoy), born from a question the bodega asked itself: if a weak wine makes good vermouth, what will a good wine produce? The answer starts from one of the estate's finest single-varietal wines — barrel-fermented Malvasía — macerated with wormwood and more than 40 botanicals from the Sierra de Mariola — one of Spain's largest herb gardens, with 1,200 catalogued plants — plus 20 exotic vegetables, many planted at the bodega, according to the official winery sheet. A centenary elder tree grows in the celler courtyard; while Saüc Blanco is rounded with the white flowers of that tree, the red incorporates its ripe fruit together with burnt sugar. Traditional 1890 recipe, organic artisan production D.O. Valencia.

Nose and palate

In Vermutpedia editorial tasting: bright light mahogany, clean, with amber flashes. Fresh nose: wormwood, chamomile, savory, gentian, sage and mountain and riverside herbs; toasted touches from barrel ageing. Long, broad, generous palate; caramel bitterness amplifying the botanicals; acidity leaving a fresh, clean mouth. Celler La Muntanya's official note describes old mahogany wood colour, powerful aroma with fragrances of artemisia, marjoram, clove, sage, lemon verbena and thyme, and a long finish with caramelised sweetness and bold, balanced bitterness.

How to serve it

Serve very chilled, per official technical sheet. Ideal at aperitif time, neat or with soda; pairs with olives, anchovies, clams or snacks. Also works with an orange slice in a chilled glass, undiluted.

Production context

Malvasía base wine with one year's ageing in 500-litre oak barrels under flor; 50-day maceration per 1890 recipe, with wormwood, 40 Mariola botanicals and 20 exotic vegetables; fortified to 15% vol. and rounded with burnt sugar and ripe fruit from the bodega's elder tree. 75 cl. Saüc range: red and white, both marketed by Celler La Muntanya.

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