6FEB05 González Byass “La Copa Rojo” SWEET VERMOUTH, Jerez de Frontera, Andalucia, Spain NV 375ml Bottle
4 and 6 bottle levels $21 (member price $18)
75% Palomino, 25% Pedro Ximenez 15.5% ABV
Talk about a labor of love! This bottle of wine takes nine years to produce! The Sherry drinkers among you might recognize Jerez de Frontera (the appellation). Vermouth is a aromatized fortifed wine, where the winemaker adds botanicals to a wine. La Copa Rojo takes the process further. Oloroso Sherry and Pedro Ximenez Sherry (both from 8 year Solera systems), are blended (3 parts Oloroso and 1 part PX), then they add botanicals and age another 4 months. Based on the original recipe from the 19th century and the original label, La Copa is the return of a brand first registered in 1884. The result is an off-dry, bittersweet highly complex wine, with notes of citrus, baking spices and many other flavors. My favorite cocktail is the Negroni, with equal parts Sweet Vermouth, Campari & London Dry Gin. La Copa Rojo would be an excellent component for a Negroni! Please note that this is a 375ml bottle.
Food Pairing Suggestions:
Negroni cocktails would be my first suggestion, but this Vermouth is also good with Jamon Iberico and Serrano, Marcona Almonds, tinned fish, cockles, Manchego cheese, and other traditional Spanish appetizers.