The third stage finally delivered the racers to France and Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe did not disappoint. He won the third stage and took the yellow jersey off the Dutchman, Mike Teunissen's shoulders.
With the tour racing through Northeastern France, the teams will spend at least a day in the Burgundy wine region with Stage 8 beginning in Macon. Maconis one of Burgundy's regions that features the Chardonnay grape. This is an exciting region for French wine and it was also a day of exciting racing at le Tour with Alaphilippe retaking the race lead! That gives us the perfect reason to match a Washington Chardonnay with a French Chablis.
2018 Succession Chardonnay vs. 2016 Roland Lavantureux Chablis
Tale of the Tape
100% Chardonnay from Clos Chevalle Vineyard in the Lake Chelan AVA
Aged for 6 months in new French Oak Barrels
Provided as a sample by the winery. Available at retail for $30
100% Estate Chardonnay from 25 - 30 year old vines.
80% aged in inox tank and 20% aged in neutral oak barrels.
Purchased at Vashon Thriftway for $24.99.
Round One. First opening
The distinct style difference between these two luchadors is evident before they even step into the ring.
The Succession Chardonnay has a bold swagger, while the French Chablis is shy and reserved.
Succession is bringing it right from the start with a nose that features white flowers, pineapple and dried straw. The palate shows more citrus character with some lychee notes and a mean streak of acidity.
The Roland Lavantureux is immediately on it's back foot. The French challenger is blowing out a smoke screen with a nose that is predominately sulfur and saline. The palate comes through with steely mineral driven flavors of saline, white flowers and star fruit with decent acidity.
Succession takes round one with an overpowering attack.
Round Two. One hour later
The Succession luchador is building strength in round two locking up the French challenger with a wicked figure four leg lock. The nose is showing notes of lemon, hazelnut and light pineapple. The palate is building strength with lemon oil, lychee and green apple inspired acidity.Roland Lavantureux is hoping to slide out of the ring to gain a moment's respite from the brutal Succession assault! The nose is dominated by mineral and saline character followed up with notes of star fruit and dried straw. The palate is dry with tropical star fruit and citrus acidity.
The Washingtong luchador is proving to be too big a challenge for the Chablis to overcome. Succession wins another round with ease to take a 2-0 lead.
Round Three. One day later
What will these luchadors bring to the ring for the final round after a cooling off period?
"More pain!" says Succession. This Washington State luchador shows no sign of letting up. The nose is evolving to show straw, candle wax, white flowers and light lemon zest with light hints of minerality. The palate follows suit, driven by mineral and saline notes and followed up by lemon oil and white flowers all driven by solid acidity.
The French challenger is attempting to fight back, but doesn't seem to be able to find any leverage. The nose is showing strong mineral notes followed by a palate expressing dry citrus and light tropical notes with a decent acid backbone.
Although the Roland Lavantureux showed signs of strength, they weren't enough to overcome the steady attack of the Succession Chardonnay.
Succession wins the match 3 rounds to 0.
Wrap up and overall observations
A note about my tasting techniques with white wines:
- Round one features the wine's character directly from the refrigerator. The character of a white wine will often be muted under these conditions.
- Round two features the wine after it has been standing for an hour with no cooling. As the wine warms up more of the fruit character will be exposed.
- Round three features the wine after going back in the fridge to chill for a day. I find the wine's character lands somewhere in between the character it showed in round one and two.
These two Chardonnays definitely show the difference between Washington and France.
The Succession Chardonnay has a bolder style with more body and a viscous mouth feel.
The Roland Lavantureux brought a much more mineral drive style of Chardonnay to the match.
Both of these wines are very good and will hit all the right notes depending on your mood and what you are looking for.
Stay tuned for two more Tour de France inspired matchups featuring Succession wines vs France.
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