Fondillón Quo Vadis 1972

Wine: Fondillón Quo Vadis 1972

Winery: Bodegas Francisco Gómez
Appellation: D.O. Alicante
Varietals: 100% Monastrell
ABV: 16%

Winemaking
Sourced from vineyards over 30 years old. The solera was established in 1972. The wine underwent a minimum of 10 years of aging in large oak barrels. Limited production of 4,000 bottles per saca.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: A beautiful dark mahogany color; brilliant, with amber and reddish highlights.

 

Nose: High intensity; direct, unapologetic, open, and expressive. It possesses a mature and deeply Mediterranean profile from which soft and elegant toasted notes emerge. Nuances of dried fruits (apricots, Turkish figs, carob) meld with a backdrop of wine-soaked staves, solera characteristics, and a liqueur-like vanilla hint. Beautiful and powerful, showing immense purity and concentration. A balsamic trace of aromatic herbs—sage, resin, and rosemary—is present. After thirty minutes of tasting, the room required ventilation, as this Fondillón had completely overwhelmed every other wine present.

 

Palate: Radical on the palate; piercing due to its concentration and extreme acidity. There is no trace of the typical sweetness found in other Fondillones; it is extraordinarily dry and slightly bitter. The sensations are of the highest quality, suggesting a product crafted with extreme care to honor this traditional wine. It gains significance as it breathes. Spherical and exceptionally long, with a retronasal passage where dried fruits, solera nuances, toasted bread, macerated plums, and raisins intertwine. Spectacular.

 

Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Score: 94

Tasting Notes (2012-04-02)

 

Appearance: Light brownish-mahogany; luminous and bright with copper and golden highlights.

 

Nose: Medium intensity, showing notes of dried fruits and raisins (figs, dates), with a soft yet very interesting alcoholic accent that brings forth candied fruit. Expressive but not excessively powerful, it lacks the typical sensations of old solera, staves, or varnishes.

 

Palate: Medium-bodied and powerful; it almost "assaults" the palate with its extreme concentration and razor-sharp acidity. It requires significant aeration. The ensemble is spiced, complex, and deep. This is a Fondillón that relies on purity—non-commercial and classical—avoiding the usual sweetish notes. A product crafted with meticulous care and high quality, presented in a gift box and a "fantasy" bottle for no less than 300 euros. 

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Score: 93