|
STOP PRESS: Daily Exclusive news on 32nd America's Cup in Valencia HERE |
Eating & Drinking
Go back to: Eating & Drinking This section has the following subsections: |
Club de Enófilos Tasting
Club de Enófilos Tasting, 6 February 2007
Bodegas Los Frailes, from Fontanars to world fame
By John Maher, VT Wine Correspondent
There were more people than usual at the first Club de Enófilos tasting in February, lured by the wines produced by this family bodega in Fontanars dels Alforins. The bodega’s name (‘los Frailes’ means ‘the Friars’) derives from its having been a Jesuit property until the disentailment of Church land in Spain in the eighteenth century saw the Velázquez family buy it at auction in 1771. They are still there, and have been making and exporting wine ever since. However, it is only in the last seven years or so that the current generation decided to change direction and make fine wine, primarily with the classic Mediterranean varieties Monastrell and Garnacha. This has been a resounding success, with international recognition (Robert Parker: “Another superb Spanish ‘wine value’, the 2004 Casamonfrare Monastrell is ... A big, soft, accessible bistro-style red, it possesses a deep ruby/purple-tinged colour as well as abundant amounts of blackberry and cherry fruit. As the French would say, it is a complete vin de plaisir. Drink it over the next 1-2 years. 87 points”). We in fact tasted the 2005 Casa Mon Frare (100% Monastrell) and then the 2004 (80% Monastrell and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon), both are big and fruity wines which spend only around four months in barrel, retaining a touch of acidity that gives them freshness and bite, the 2004 is given slightly more structure by the Cabernet Sauvignon. They are in popular demand internationally (in the USA, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark, primarily — and Adnams in the UK) and are an absolute bargain here at 3.50 euros (2005) and 4.50 euros (2004).
We then tried the classy ‘Bilogía’ (50% Monastrell and 50% Tempranillo) 2004, which is technically a ‘Crianza’ as it spends 12 months in oak, but the winemakers believe that the labels ‘Crianza’, ‘Reserva’ and ‘Gran Reserva’ are not useful in describing the qualities of wine in general and their wines in particular. This ‘Bilogía’ is a splendid balance of structure, fruit and acidity. The 2004 vintage of the sister wine ‘Trilogía’ (so-called because it is made with three grapes (70% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Tempranillo) is sold out, but the 2005 is imminent.
There was an unexpected surprise to finish the tasting in the shape of a sweet Monastrell, ‘After Tres’. This naturally sweet red wine (the Monastrell ripened so late that the yeasts can’t turn all the sugar into alcohol) cost 13 euros for a 50cl bottle and works both before a meal as an aperitif and/or at the end (Miguel suggested with strong cheeses).
The applause raised the roof at the end of the tasting, with cries of ‘Bravo’ as well. Miguel Velázquez and his family are doing great things.
Our Wine Correspondent, John Maher, has his own website with information on the different wine types of the Valencian region. For more information go to www.winesofvalencia.com
Created: 2007-02-15 09:52:21 | Updated: 2007-02-15 09:52:21
Related Items
Utiel Gastronomica Food & Wine Fair : Utiel once again hosts it's Gastronomic Food and Wine Fair from 26-28 October 2007. [more...]La Forca : Type of Food: Traditional Open: Tues-Sun inc. festivities (closed Mon) [more...]
More about sherry and wine in Spain! : On this link you find out a lot about the famous sherry. [more...]
In search of the perfect vineyard visit : Our correspondent goes in search of the perfect vineyard visit - and finds it in Enguera... [more...]
Tours for wine lovers : Wineroute of the DO Utiel-Requena offers various tours of the main bodegas, with wine tasting sessions. [more...]
Vinoélite Fine Wines Fair 2007 : The first Vinoélite, the Fine Wines Fair, will be held from 18th to 20th April 2007. [more...]
Raimà Grape Festival & Civic Grape Festival : This year La Pobla del Duc, an inland town in the Vall d’Albaida in the province of Valencia, is celebrating its second grape festival, already known as the Raimà, the most outstanding event of which is the grape throwing battle. [more...]
Requena Wine Festival 2007 : Requena celebrates La Feria y fiesta de la Vendimia, it's annual wine harvest festival from 22 August to 2 September 2007. [more...]
Wines of Valencia : Calling all wine lovers! [more...]
Joan C. Martín, a teacher who does : An article for wine lovers. [more...]
At the Court of Queen Miriam : Since the end of last October the supermarket on the lower ground floor of the El Corte Inglés on Avenida de Francia by the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències – apparently the largest in Spain – has been having a rolling tasting of wines from the Valencia Denominación de Origen (DO). [more...]
Wine and Traditional Food Festival : The Wine and Traditional Food Festival comes to the Turia Riverbed in April. [more...]
New Bodegas on the Way : Alicante Province seems set to play the host to at least eight new wine bodegas, after several years of poor wine sales. [more...]
More Join In : Amy Winehouse, considered one of the most important voices of the New British Soul Movement, singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright, and Spanish artists Kiko Veneno [more...]
Breaking New Ground : The Sant Vicente Ferrer wine cooperative in Teulada has now presented the first champagne ever produced from Muscatel grapes, in what is equally a first for Alicante Province. [more...]
This page has been printed from the Valencia Trader website.
You can visit the Valencia Trader at http://www.valenciatrader.com
The Valencia Trader - Everything Made Local!
