Monkfish with chorizo and godello

I finally got to The Sportsman at Seasalter in Kent this week - a restaurant I’ve been wanting to go to for years. It more than lived up to expectations - which isn’t always the case with a famous restaurant is it? - in terms of service as well as food but there was a standout wine pairing from the meal I was particularly impressed by.

The dish was an unusual one of monkfish with a surprisingly creamy chorizo sauce and green olive tapenade. It was the spicy pimento flavour of the chorizo that made it such a great match with the wine I’d chosen - a 2022 Louro de Bolo Godello from Rafael Palacios from Valdeorras in northern Spain.

Godello can actually taste quite ordinary - like a cheap and cheerful chardonnay - but this was full and complex with great acidity that made the pairing with the monkfish more than the sum of its parts. And also suggests godello might be able to handle other spicy dishes.

You can find it in a number of indies including Vino Gusto who are selling it for £22 or £20.90 if you buy any six bottles (+ you get 10% off for a first order). Which makes the Sportsman’s list price of £49.95 pretty reasonable. (Their mark-ups are modest)

If you found this post helpful and would like to support the website and keep it free for everyone to use it would be great if you could make a donation towards its running costs.

And for more hot tips and recommendations check out my Substack Eat This, Drink That, Live Well.

You may also enjoy …

Monkfish and Meursault - and Muscadet, come to thatBacchus and cucumberScallop Ceviche