Brotons Gran Fondillón 1970 (75cl, 18%)

This is a Fondillón from Brotons, a 1970 in a 75cl bottle, made from Monastrell in Alicante. The grapes come from old bush vines on sandstone, grown at very low yields and picked very ripe in late October or November, with a potential alcohol of 16.5 to 17%. Fermentation and ageing both take place in large old wooden vats of 1,500 to 2,000 litres, where the wine is left for decades to age oxidatively. The heat and time concentrate the wine naturally, so it is bottled without fortification or additives.