A Fino on its first steps toward becoming an Amontillado, a wine traditionally labeled by winemakers and connoisseurs as Fino Amontillado—no matter how unfavorable the current legislation seems to be toward this ancient category. This is an old wine that expresses like no other, through the action of time, the stunning chalky soils of the best Pedro Ximénez vineyards in the Montilla ridge.
La Bota de Fino no. 124 “Un fino que va para amontillado…” has been sourced from the oldest fino solera in Pérez Barquero’s Bodega Los Amigos: a total of 63 butts located in third row, of which we had the privilege to choose twelve that represent the current state of the solera. Seeking a distinctive character we opted for those butts that most clearly showed an incipient amontillamiento while preserving the fino character—as proved by its alcoholic content: 16.5%.
Telltale notes of early stages of amontillamiento, as well as the concentration of aromas and flavors, evidence its notable age—estimated ca. 15 years. But there is no question this is still a fino, aged under a fragile layer of flor that time has darkened, weakened, and partly torn into patches. In many respects this wine offers a striking conceptual resemblance to EQUIPO NAVAZOS’ La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada, but at the same time retains a distinctive personality all its own.
La Bota de Fino (Amontillado) number 124 is a fascinating wine, deep and elegant, as well as exceptionally versatile on the dinner table. Taken from the casks and bottled in November 2023, unfined and virtually unfiltered, its beautiful golden color is the one it exhibits straight from the butt.
