Vermut Clàssic Castell del Remei

Vermut Clàssic is a traditional vermouth from Castell del Remei, a long-established winery in D.O. Costers del Segre near Lleida in north-east Spain. Its base is Macabeo, the white grape widely planted across Catalonia and used in still wine and cava, valued here for its neutral, fresh profile that takes botanicals well. The wine is fortified, sweetened and infused with an intense mix of spices, roots and herbs, including gentian and the wormwood the style is named for, before being held in the classic amber-to-red register of Catalan vermut. Maceration and blending balance the sweetness against the bitter botanicals that give the wine its backbone. The nose is intense, with spice notes of pepper and gentian over ripe fruit. The palate opens sweet and rounded then turns to a firm bitter finish, flavoursome and built for sipping rather than the table. At 15 percent it is a standard aperitif strength. This is vermouth in its old role, the mid-morning Sunday drink revived after decades out of fashion. Serve chilled over ice with an orange slice and a green olive, alongside crisps, olives and cured meats.