Winemaker Notes
Coming from the French village of Podensac in the heart of Bordeaux, Lillet Rouge French Aperitif is a beautiful ruby-red blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and fruit liqueurs.
History
A liightly spiced, bitter aperitif wine, Lillet Rouge is often overlooked within the Lillet family, passed over in favor of its brighter, pastel-hued siblings. But Rouge, with its fruit-forward flavor and full-bodied texture, can be an asset in both shaken and stirred drinks, or simply enjoyed on its own.
Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, Lillet Rouge is fortified with lemon and orange brandies and quinine, the latter of which acts as a bittering agent. It was introduced to the market in 1962 by Pierre Lillet as a ruby-hued attempt to double down on the success of its predecessor, Lillet Blanc, which had become famous in the 20th century thanks to a number of celebrity endorsements (among them, those from the Duchess of Windsor and Ian Fleming, whose James Bond famously enjoyed it shaken into a Vesper.)
