Fish & chips on strawberry fields

To be honest (be fair, I am, occasionally!) I thought twice about the above title of this week’s Cork Talk. Whilst I’m sure that Fish and Chips is a good all round British staple, it doesn’t really smack of gourmet dining. Plus, if that’s the case, I don’t want to denigrate by association, the very high quality winery I’m talking about today. You see, there is a link, albeit a touch tenuous.

Then I remembered that there is an on-going big promotion in the UK for pairing English Sparkling Wine, Fizz that is oft compared favourably with what the Champagne aficionados consider to the Bubbly yardstick, to be paired with exactly that dish, Fish and Chips! Therefore, I went ahead with the title. Bodegas Les Freses, DO Alicante, doesn’t make Champagne, of course, but if that French Fizz is as outstanding as the experts tell us, then the wines of this bodega are certainly up there on a similar level.

And the Strawberry Fields? Well, as you’ll know Les Freses is Valenciano for strawberries and the bodega’s vineyards are planted on the same land in Jesús Pobre as were the strawberry plants of some years ago. The strawberry farm didn’t really work – but, dear reader, the vines certainly do!

We recently attended Bodegas Les Freses’ Wine in the Vines with Music event, which we thoroughly enjoyed. We weren’t the only ones. A rough head count during the show suggested at least 100 people – every chair taken, and therefore a great atmosphere for attendees and, importantly, the band!

Four Spanish guys (ever noticed how musicians like to wear hats – 75% of this fourpiece band did, just saying!) playing traditional Irish music with beautiful authentic Irish instruments. They were exceptionally good and well appreciated by all. Check them out if you have the chance – The Boys of Distillery (I know, unusual name, huh?).

In the photo that heads this article you can see me, glass in hand with head bent towards my notes, hard at work as ever. Such dedication, well ok it wasn’t entirely altruistic, we greatly enjoyed the evening – the music, the ambience and, of course the wine! If you have time tomorrow (1st August) you’ll be able to listen to my www.valleyfm.es Wine Show, where I talk about the wine I was tasting in the photo. Bodegas Les Freses figures at the start of the show – just after 13:00 hrs (slight change in usual time).

There’s an almost ephemeral, flinty minerality to the wine on first sniff – you somehow know you’re onto something special. There are citrus notes with a super refreshing acidity with floral fragrances following (I can’t help alliterating!). Faint honeysuckle, jasmine and chamomile with a slightly grapefruit finish. You’ll hear more on the radio, but suffice to say here that I’m a huge fan of this wine – certainly one of, if not, the, best dry Moscatel wines I’ve ever tasted! Very highly recommended.

Moscatel – what a super variety! There are various clones of Moscatel, Mara actually grows 14 different types, enabling her to blend the different characteristics to make the wine I’ve just described. However, Moscatel, as many will know is also capable of making wonderful dessert wines.

Dessert wines are sometimes known, in a friendly and positive, though rather inaccurate way, as ‘sticky wines’. I can see where it comes from – they are sweet, of course, but ‘sticky’ to me suggests a cloying, syrupy style, that really isn’t what we are looking for – though, there are, of course, some who like such a style and there are plenty of producers who can satisfy that need! ‘Proper’ dessert wines must have a backbone of acidity running through them – which is exactly what you get when you taste Les Freses Dolç.

Served very chilled from large, misty decanters the wine spoke of honey as it was poured, Acacia honey, for me. This obviously sweet element was instantly joined by the refreshing acidic kick of fresh ginger on the palate and then, as it warmed ever so slightly from cold to chilled, some fruit kicked in.

Ripe English apple skin and the dead giveaway for Moscatel wines, dried grapes – raisons.

Again a brilliant wine from Bodegas Les Freses (find them on Facebook, where you’ll see their other upcoming events as well as their tours, and of course how to buy their wines).

Oh, and the Fish and Chips? Well, the event we attended had some nibbles, which included a portion of crisps and a lovely slice of ‘mojama’, air-dried! Well, it’s near enough! colin@colinharknessonwine .com www.valleyfm.es Twitter @colinonwine Facebook Colin Harkness Instagram colinharkness53