Fondillón Alone 1970

Wine: Fondillón Alone 1970

Winery: Bocopa - Bodegas Cooperativas de Alicante (Petrer, Alicante)
Appellation: D.O. Alicante
Varietals: 100% Monastrell
ABV: 16%

Winemaking
Sourced from a selection of ripe and overripe grapes, fermented with skins under temperature control. The wine is aged using a solera system consisting of 3 to 4 tiers of legacy 1,500-liter oak casks. Annually, one-third of the oldest wine is drawn for bottling; the casks are then replenished proportionally from younger to older tiers, with the youngest being filled with wine from the current vintage. Lightly filtered before bottling. The solera was established in 1970. Limited series of 3,000 bottles. Bottle No. 1933 of 3,050 (hand-numbered). 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Very pale amber with orange and brownish (mahogany) highlights. Slightly cloudy with fine granulation (no sediment in the bottle). Thick, slightly iodized rim with no variation against the meniscus. Thick, abundant legs.

 

Nose: A "storm" of sensations and minute details, possessing a remarkable chameleon-like ability to evolve. Upon opening, it displays the typical profile of a traditional rancio wine, though slightly sweeter, with a strong presence of dried fruits, varnish, and a sharp accent reminiscent of an old Amontillado (cedar, exotic woods, biological aging notes), accompanied by pronounced toasted notes in the background. After several weeks of being open, the Fondillón has expanded in every sense. It presents as perfectly rounded, having shed its initial potency to reveal a supremely elegant ensemble. Perfumed, smoky oak is fully integrated with raisined and jammy fruit (figs, Dakhla dates, macerated plums) and Mediterranean scrubland sensations. No trace of alcohol remains. Its overflowing complexity is overwhelming.

 

Palate: Medium-bodied with a slight unctuousness that provides warmth; dry yet subtly off-dry. Surprisingly elegant and harmonious. It offers a bit of everything: dried fruits, raisins, chocolate, toffee, mocha, and toasted notes, all enveloped by a fine saline touch. Savory and warm—profoundly Mediterranean. Impressive. An eternal finish with a savory, bitter cocoa note on the retronasal passage that lingers indefinitely. 

 

Personal Score: 94
Tasting Group Score: 97

Oenological Insight: A Liquid Metamorphosis

Due to its incredibly slow aging process, this wine undergoes an endless series of changes from the moment the cork is pulled. Its shifting nature makes patience essential to enjoy it in peak condition. In my opinion, this is a superior rancio that continues to improve over months if stored correctly. It is a wine to be savored in tiny sips—both to prolong the experience and to accord it the respect it deserves. A true "coup de coeur". Sensational in every detail, this is more than a wine; it is a jewel of world viticulture. It is almost hard to believe such quality exists, especially at this price point.