DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Contratto Vermouth Rosso
(Italy)

Nose: Plum, cherry, prune, red raisins, dried apple, cola, birch beer, lemon sauce with Herbes de Provence, dried herbs, sweet herbs, mint, eucalyptus, thyme, baking spices, floral, hints of coffee, gentian, quinine.

Palate: Orange, blood orange, bitter orange, pomelo peel, bergamot, apple, plummy, black plum, blackberry, sweet cherry, cherry cheesecake, prune, raisin, cola, light blend of herbs, mint, hyssop, thyme, spicy, earth, balsamic, port, beautifully balanced, soft, rich, lovely.

Finish: Blood orange, orange peel, bergamot, subtle grape, berries, plum, raisin, cola, rooibos tea, lavender, elder flower, thyme, oregano, sweet spice, balanced, fresh, silky, approachable, great.

Double Gold Medal

Vermut Lustau Rosé
(Spain)

Nose: Dried apple, dried cherry, prunes, sarsaparilla, vanilla, honey, walnut bread, KitKat bar, plum elderflower, sandalwood, botanicals, parsley, dried herbs, thyme, cloves, Ceylon cinnamon, spice, cinchona bark, cigar box, smoke, incense.

Palate: Sweet pear, peach, melon, lemon zest, sweet grapes, plum, honey, bees wax, vanilla, vanilla wafers, parsley, star anise, herbal, highly extracted herbs, sage, thyme, clove, mace, oregano, wormwood, spicy, smoky, zesty, rich, easy-drinking, delicious.

Finish: Sweet pear, strawberry, hint of banana, honey, dessert, chocolate, herbs mixed with fruit, herbal, thyme, spicy, peppery, tobacco, buttery, balanced, complex, soft, well made, perfect on rocks, great, delightful.

Double Gold Medal

Mata Vermouth Tinto Reserva
(Spain)

Nose: Cooked plum, cooked blueberries, peach, fermented fruit, dried cherries, prunes, cola, mulled wine, vegetal, cinnamon, spice, herbs, orris root, wormwood, quinaquina, tree bark, cedar cascarilla.

Palate: Lemon zest, kaffir lime, figs, berries, black cherry, dried cherries, prunes, fermented raisins, cola, nutty, rose water, sweet lavender, complex herbal mix, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon, baking spice, sweet spiced wine, nicely balanced, bright, lush, rich.

Finish: Potpourri, rose water, very floral, anise, subtle cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon bark, hot cinnamon, allspice, spicy, well balanced, multi-layered, explosive.

Double Gold Medal

Vermut Lustau Rojo
(Spain)

Nose: Dark raisin, prune, dried cherry, cherry cola, sarsaparilla, dark chocolate, butterscotch, popovers, nutty, dried herbs, thyme, balsamic, orris root, birch, Malaga, port wine.

Palate: Orange peel, bitter orange, plum, currants, cherry, prune, prune juice, raisins, cola, caramelized sugar, wilting florals dried herbs, mint, cinnamon, thyme, mulling spices, angelica root, wormwood, balsamic, port, well balanced, soft, bright.

Finish: Cooked lemons, rum raisin, herbs, thyme, pepper, pine, layered, silky, smooth, perfect over ice, elegant, flavorful, tasty, delish, delicious.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Vermut Lustau Blanco
(Spain)

Nose: Fermented tangerine, citrus, blueberry, grape, cooked grapes, marmalade, honey, burnt honey, spun sugar, candied cherries, floral, herbaceous, herbal mix, dried herbs, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, oregano, sumac, eucalyptus, burdock root, gentian, almond.

Palate: Beautiful citrus, orange peel/pith, orange syrup, marmalade, honey, raisins, sweet cherries, plums, kiwi, grape skins, floral, botanical, herbal, dried herbs, bay leaf, thyme, oregano, Greek oregano, coriander, cumin, spices, hint of sweetness, nicely balanced, very robust, complex, rich.

Finish: Orange peel, bergamot, apricot, watermelon juice, plum sauce, cocoa, burdock root, gentian, root forward, layered herbal, thyme, spice cabinet, late harvest, excellent balance, balanced bitter, smooth, clean & fresh, great.

Gold Medal
   

A.G. Perino Dry Vermouth
(Perino Family Cellars, CA)

Nose: Lemon, Meyer lemon, lemon verbena, fresh lemon peel, bergamot, orange, melon, kiwi, white grape juice, raisins, honey, lemongrass, orange blossom, floral, anise, eucalyptus, dried herbs, bay leaf, white tea, black tea, tannic, nutty, white Moscato, clean, crisp.

Palate: Lemon, fresh lemon peel, grapefruit pith, mandarin, citrus, grape, cola, herbs, light floral, lanolin, softly sweet, pleasingly tart, slightly acidic, nice balance, soft, smooth, velvety, clean, bright, nicely presented.

Finish: 011.1Grapefruit rind, citrus, grape, toffee, hint of pickle juice, subtle blend, dry, clean, fresh, delicate, silky, approachable, made well, refreshing, tasty, delicious, summer drink, a nice sipper.

Gold Medal
   

Contratto Vermouth Bianco
(Italy)

Nose: Bright orange peel, bitter orange peel, blood orange, lemon verbena, sour lemon, apples, apple juice, strawberries, grapes, white grape juice, wine, chardonnay, herbs, nettle, tobacco, toast, oak.

Palate:Lemon, lemon peel, lemon verbena, fresh orange juice, apple peel, sour grape, raisins, prunes, root beer, herbal, thyme, dark parsley, pinot gris, tart, tangy, bitter end, subtle balance.

Finish: Citrus, limoncello, Juicy Fruit gum, white raspberries, ripe kiwi, parsley, cardamom, oregano, herbs lead, deliciously herbal, saline, bitterness, balanced, smooth, tasty, perfect, I’m in love, delicious.

Gold Medal
   

Ransom Dry Vermouth
(Ransom Wine Co., CO)

Nose: Cocoa, chocolate cake, molasses, date bread, black currant, sweet beets, cola, root beer, coffee, fresh brewed, dark roast, coffee beans, coffee grounds, herbal, vegetal, tobacco, hot cinnamon, tree bark, sherry-like, rich.

Palate: Coffee forward, iced coffee, sweet coffee, light espresso, coffee syrup, coffee grounds, toffee, peanut brittle, cola, sour cherry, ripe apple, vegetal, herbal, wormwood, angelica root, cinnamon bark, tree bark, earth, toast, char, nicely balanced, rich.

Finish: Cocoa forward, chocolate, burnt coffee, maple, berry, lingering cola, cinnamon, thyme, herbs, wormwood, rich, breakfast while camping, clean & fresh, flavorful, intense, pleasing.

Gold Medal
   

A.G. Perino Sweet Vermouth
(Perino Family Cellars, CA)

Nose: Prune, dark raisins, orange peel, sassafras, sarsaparilla, cola, chocolate, coffee, herbal, chamomile, sweet cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, bright.

Palate: Plum, prune, dried dark fruit, cherry, blackberry, jammy, orange candy, honey, vanilla, cola, root beer, angelica root, wormwood, hint of ginger, almond oil, coffee, toast, tannic, sweet mulled wine, well balanced, complex, rich.

Finish: Prune, stewed prunes, root beer, vanilla, toast, well balanced, complex, approachable, an easy sipper, tasty, delicious, great.

Gold Medal
   

Caperitif
(A.A. Badenhorst, South Africa)

Nose: Valencia orange peel, candied orange rind, orange marmalade, dark sugar, honey, orange blossom, rose, green apple, peach, peach skin, dark cherry, dark chocolate shavings, sassafras, ginger, herbs, tea, mint leaves, mint, cinnamon bark, mace, pepper, brine, pine, incense, beautiful.

Palate: Orange, red orange, tangerine, grapefruit, orange peel, bitter lemon, tart cherry, sweet dark cherry, floral, hints of honeysuckle, herbal, ginger beer, coriander, baking spices, cinchona bark, pine, bright.

Finish: Orange, red orange, orange rind, lemon/lime, citrus, melon, herbal forward, floral, slippery elm, chocolate, very well balanced, soft, bright.

Gold Medal
   

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Vermut Sospeso
(Bespoke Distillery, Italy)

Nose: White grapes, dried orange peel, lime zest, honey, honey stick, cherry fruit leather, roses, floral bouquet, herbal, mint, sweet anise, licorice, wormwood, absinthe, wet stone after a rain.

Palate: White grapes, apple, sour orange, lemon, lime peel/pith, rose water, herbal, Thai basil, mint, spearmint, licorice candy, anise, wormwood, bitter leaf, black tea, tannic, toast, clean, very bright.

Finish: Tart apple, lime zest, unripe berries, roasted raisin, herb forward, herbal, hint of anise, toast, clean, different, interesting, refreshing, perfect mixer for many liquors.

Silver Medal
   

Ransom Sweet Vermouth
(Ransom Wine Co., CO)

Nose: Buttery toffee, cocoa, Graham crackers, banana, burnt lemon, spiced pears, root beer, sassafras, anise, fennel, menthol, eucalyptus, herbal, rose water, lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, oregano, pepper, whiskey.

Palate: Lemon, citrus pith, cooked apples, ripe cherry, ripe banana, cocoa nibs, sarsaparilla, birch bark, licorice, eucalyptus, wormwood, herbal, cinnamon, oregano, pepper, leather, layered, complex, rich.

Finish: Sweet apple, ripe banana, ripe berries, cola, licorice, root forward, sage, mace, bitter and herb balance, multi-layered, smooth, clean, fresh.

Silver Medal