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Rojo

Rueda

Red · Artisan · Medium-sweet

El Hilo de Ariadna

Bodegas Yllera

Rueda , España

7.6 /10

Vermutpedia Score: 7.6/10

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Overall impression

El Hilo de Ariadna is the artisan vermouth of Bodegas Yllera (Rueda), presented in 2015 after numerous trials. Made with aged white wines macerated with more than thirty botanicals — wormwood, cinnamon, orange peel, elderflower, vanilla, chamomile and thyme, among others — and ageing in criaderas and soleras in French oak barrels. The name refers to the winery's underground labyrinth enotourism experience, one of the most singular wine attractions in Castilla y León. It is Yllera's sole vermouth reference — a spiced, sweet-sour profile with French oak footprint that stands apart from simple macerated reds without solera depth.

Nose and palate

Intense, brilliant mahogany colour. Spiced notes such as vanilla and clove, orange peel and light wood and cinnamon touches. Intense and elegant, fresh with sweet-sour notes and long finish. The criaderas and soleras system adds depth and aromatic continuity over the aged white-wine base. Solera contributes oxidative nuance and vanilla without turning the vermouth into a dessert wine; wormwood and orange peel keep the profile firmly in vermouth territory.

How to serve it

Designed for Castilian aperitivo: cold with olives, conservas, dried fruit or ibérico ham. Also works as after-dinner vermouth when a spiced, sweet-sour profile with French oak footprint is sought. Serve between 6 and 8 °C to highlight freshness and spice. In a wine glass or wide tumbler with moderate ice; the solera depth rewards solo service over heavy dilution.

Production context

Made in Rueda by Grupo Yllera. 15% vol., 75 cl. Sole vermouth reference of the winery, linked to the El Hilo de Ariadna enotourism project. Artisan botanical maceration and French oak ageing under criaderas and soleras system, according to the official November 2015 press note. More than thirty botanicals; aged white-wine base. For Vermutpedia, El Hilo de Ariadna synthesises Castilian solera vermouth: Yllera labyrinth branding, French oak and sweet-sour spice in a bottle verifiable at grupoyllera.com.

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Same type and style — Red · Medium-sweet

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