Leopold Bros x Matthiasson Sweet Wermut

This vermouth shatters every preconception you've held about aromatized wines. Leopold Bros and Matthiasson Winery united to craft this deeply complex spirit by blending barrel-aged Cabernet Sauvignon with exquisite peach and pear eaux-de-vie. It's simply demanding your attention. They macerate Grande wormwood alongside green Mandarin orange, vanilla, and rooibos tea to forge a strikingly intense botanical profile.

The texture mirrors the gripping tannins of a phenomenal Napa red. Distillers fortify the robust base with rich stone fruit brandies from a historic three-chamber still to preserve those remarkably volatile, fragile aromatic compounds. Belgian candi sugar adds weight. You'll rarely encounter such an unapologetically vinous and beautifully bitter profile outside of obscure vintage bottlings. What a wildly captivating collaboration!

• Base: Matthiasson Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
• Fortification: Peach and pear eaux-de-vie
• Botanicals: Grande wormwood, rooibos, ginger root

Nose: Vibrant green mandarin orange and crushed white pepper burst forward immediately. Subtle rose petal weaves through a dense core of dark cherry and vanilla.

Palate: Fiercely vinous tannins grip the tongue with undeniable authority. Roasted cacao and sharp ginger root collide violently with lush layers of ripe peach.

Finish: The profound wormwood bitterness lingers gracefully on the palate. A dry, floral spice slowly fades into an echo of elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.

This robust vermouth requires robust flavors to tame its gripping tannins and stark bitterness. Pair it with heavily marbled ribeye steak to let the rich fat soften the sharp wormwood bite. Salty, aged Pecorino Romano cheese brilliantly contrasts those deep cacao and dark fruit notes. It's also fantastic with smoked Marcona almonds, providing a crunchy counterpoint to the heavy botanical weight.