Vermut Reserva Amillo 15%, Bodegas Altanza

Appearance
Deep mahogany brown to amber at the rim which has a certain viscosity.

Nose

Attractive bitter-sweet nose with prominent Oloroso and PX on one side and a dry bitter wormwood side on the other, and they provide an attractive tension between them. Some botanical stand out more then others, such as gentian and cardamom and of course wormwood, and there are slight medicinal hints and notes of toffee, but it all works together very well.

Palate

Full bodied, bitter and tangy with the perfect amount of sweetness to balance. Naturally there are raisin notes from the PX which nicely counterbalance the wormwood, ans while it is quite intensely flavoured, everything is in harmony leaving a long dry bitter finish.

Comments

Despite being a collector from the Rioja, Roberto Amillo is a huge Sherry fan, and working with the Rioja firm of Bodegas Altanza he offers a range of outstanding Sherries and Brandy known as the Colección Roberto Amillo, from their small bodega in Jerez. He was one of the pioneers of the revival of Vermouth produced in Jerez which began some four years ago. The base wine is a blend of Oloroso with an average age of some 15 years and Pedro Ximénez with 6 in which no fewer than 32 botanicals are macerated. The precise formula is secret of course, but it includes wormwood, cinnamon, cardamom, thyme, aniseed, rosemary and clove and once prepared the product is aged in French oak barrels for six months before filtration and sale. There is also the Vermut Reserva Especial which is the same formula but aged for 14 months.

Price

12.20 euros, Licores Corredera

Vermouth Rojo Premium 15%, Bodegas Osborne

Appearance
Deep orange tinged brown with coppery glints.
Nose

Bright and bitter at first, it really catches the attention with wormwood and quinine, and then notes of bitter orange peel and hints of cinnamon and sweetness from the Sherry come through and it starts to form a whole. It has an attractive tang and is very appealing.

Palate

The Sherry is a little more apparent and that up front bitterness subsides a bit. It is not over sweet and has a smooth gentle texture which is lifted by a light, elegant bitterness which imparts a sort of freshness. This is great vermouth, a little different and full of character.

Comments

Although originally launched in May, the new Osborne Vermouth Rojo Premium got a bigger and more official launch at Vinoble 2018. The label is striking and the quality is excellent. It is based on a blend of Medium and PX which give it a very smooth character while the botanicals used, which include wormwood, hierba gitanera (dittany), cinnamon, nutmeg, bitter orange peel are mostly locally sourced and typical of the area giving it a good bitter-sweet balance. 

Price

Vermut Antonio Pedro I 16%, Bodegas Yuste

Appearance

Deep mahogany with coppery highlights.

Nose

Attractive balance of the Sherry with the botanicals and reasonably light, elegant and not as intense as some nor as apparently sweet, yet well rounded. There are notes of wormwood, naturally, and other bitter herbs as well as a hint of orange peel and slightly toasty savoury hints.
Palate
Sherry up front then the bitter herbs follow quickly through giving a nice bitter-sweet tension and great balance at  the same time. Its elegance gives one the choice of drinking it straight from the fridge or with ice and a slice. It is not too sweet and is quite fresh with a good long slightly bitter finish.
Comments

This classic and very complex Vermouth is made by macerating no fewer than 41 natural botanicals with old Sherry in ex Manzanilla Pasada butts. The botanicals include wormwood, gentian, elderflower, coriander, quinine and centaury. The brand name is interesting, and refers to the rather bizarre story of José Antonio Hurtado who, during the 1980s as Antonio Pedro, was a Spanish singer and actor who made a living by impersonating the great Mexican singer and actor Pedro Infante who had died in 1957.

Price
12 euros, Er Guerrita

Vermut Duque de Diano 15%, Bodega Genaro Cala

Appearance
Deep blacky brown fading to amber at the rim.
Nose
At first the more bitter elements show, like wormwood and possibly gentian and there is a faint curry-like note before the PX and Oloroso make themselves apparent. It is quite intense and complex with a sweet edge and you can make out the PX, but all is harmonious.
Palate

Very slightly lighter on the palate than expected from the nose, but every bit as intense, and while it is fairly sweet it is not excessively so and thus well balanced and clean with a certain tang which also helps. It has a long, gently bitter and reasonably dry finish and is very well made.

Comments

While this vermouth has been available in bulk to local bars for some time, it was launched in bottle only at the start of 2016 with the new wave of popularity for vermouth. The title Duque de Diano was the obvious choice for a brand name as it once belonged to Genaro's family, which used to run the bodega Francisco de Cala. The base wines for this vermouth come from family stocks of Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso which are quite old with a little sobretabla blended in. The blend is then infused with a formula of 30 botanicals which took years to refine, and is of course secret, and aged in a solera of French oak barrels in a tiny bodega in Calle Jardinillo. It is a totally artisan vermouth made the old fashioned way.

Price
10.70 De Albariza

Vermut 17%, Fernando de Castilla

Appearance

Deep blacky walnut brown fading to amber.

Nose

Rich and bitter at once, there is a nice balance between Sherry - particularly the PX - and botanicals. It is an interesting and different nose and up front are wormwood and cinnamon along with  citric notes, even a hint of resin, and quite a sweet note of raisin leading one to think it will be rather sweet.

Palate

It is not really any sweeter than its competitors as the bitterness of the botanicals balance it out giving an alluring almost velvety bitter-sweetness. There is a trace of tannin, from both wine and botanicals one imagines, but no problem, it helps give this fully flavoured vermouth a nice dry, and long finish.

Comments

Launched in 2016 this excellent Vermouth is made in the classic Jerez style with a blend of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez which are around eight years old. No fewer than 27 botanicals which are totally natural - no essences - and where possible locally sourced, include wormwood, rosemary, cinnamon, lemon and orange peels and clove, (naturally the formula is a secret) are then macerated in the blend for many months in seasoned butts and it is aged for 8 years. Unlike the long established bodegas with their revived historic formulas, Fernando de Castilla (est.1972) has come up with a new one, and it is very good.

Price
13.50 Birdie Vinos, Mijas

Vermouth La Copa 15.5%, González Byass

Appearance

Deep mahogany fading to amber with copper highlights.
Nose
Aromatic with wormwood and quinine to the fore with raisin note from the PX behind, then come hints of Oloroso and orange before the whole ensemble comes together as an appealing bitter-sweet whole. It all seems perfectly balanced.
Palate
Initial sweetness gives way as the bitterness comes through but never takes over, it just balances nicely. There is a fullness, even a trace of viscosity which is kept in check by the bitter botanicals and it has a very long finish which dries a little leaving pleasant sensations.
Comments

In line with the resurgence of the popularity of Vermouth, González Byass re-launched its La Copa brand in spring 2016. The formula, which dates from 1896 and had been preserved in the bodega's historic archive, is exactly the same, as is the label. The brand "La Copa" or the glass was also used to brand the horses bred by the son of the firm's founder, the Marqués de Torresoto. The vermouth is made from a blend of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez of at least eight years of age and the botanicals include wormwood, savory, clove, orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, angelica and quinine.

Price
7.99 euros, El Corte Inglés

Vermut Rojo 15%, Lustau

Appearance

Deep black brown fading to amber with coppery glints. 

Nose

Really herbal, bitter and spicy, the wormwood and gentian really come through and there is a faint curry note from the coriander before the sage appears. There are distinct Sherry notes with a trace of volatile acidity and cinder toffee sweetness. It is quite full on, nicely integrated and characterful.

Palate

While the sweetness is just right, it is countered by the bitterness and a very slight tannic grip, then the orange comes through. Part of the fun is that one can pick out many of the botanicals, yet they all work so well together. It has texture and considerable length and is frighteningly moreish. Great stuff.

Comments

Vermouth used to be produced by many bodegas in Jerez but fell out of fashion until quite recently. Now many are re-launching the product, mostly using original formulae. This delicious vermouth, launched in March 2016, is made from a blend of two solera wines, both over 10 years old: a dry Amontillado (80%) and a PX (20%) which is enough to give the product 150g/l sugars. The sweetness is balanced out by ten botanicals, including orange peel, gentian, angelica, wormwood, sage and coriander are macerated separately before being blended with the wine according to an old Lustau formula. This was one of the last projects of the bodega's much loved and sadly missed oenologist Manuel Lozano. 

Price

About 13 euros, widely available