Dolin - Vermouth de Chambery - Blanc - NV

$19.99

Vermouth, not a dessert wine. Dolin has made it in Chambery since 1821 and the Sevez family has run the house for five generations. Blanc is their invention: the pale sweet style Chambery created in 1881, later copied in Italy as Bianco. Ugni Blanc base, real plants macerated rather than extracts, sixteen percent. Drink it cold with soda and a strawberry, or build a Blond Negroni.

Classic, fresh and clear with balanced sweetness. Almond, citrus and elderflower, a hint of vanilla underneath. Light on its feet for something this sweet.

Fresh cow's milk cheese or a creamy bloomy-rind cheese. Or pour it over chopped fruit in a pitcher and top with soda.

Chambery holds France's only appellation for vermouth, granted in 1932. The rules require production in Chambery itself, maceration of real plants rather than pre-made infusions, and sweetening only with grape must, wine or sugar. Dolin still works that way, and still makes the alpine liqueur Genepy.