Washington GSM v. Cotes du Rhone

The Criterium du Dauphine' is one of the final tune up stage races as the pros get ready for the Tour de France.  The Dauphine' is great training because it follows many of the routes used on the le Tour.  The stages in the week long race will also often mimic stages the riders will experience in July.  In the past several years the winner of the Dauphine' has gone on to win the Tour de France.

This year's edition of the race rolls through the Rhone Valley and through Provence before heading back for a couple of mountainous stages to wrap things up with a bang.  The race featured the top contenders for the Tour de France.  Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali are expected to be the top three riders battling for the crown in July.  They did not disappoint in this year's Dauphine with numerous attacks and spirited uphill skirmishes.

In the end, Andrew Talansky took the overall victory.  Nobody saw that coming.  Well, maybe the Garmin Director Sportif, Jonathan Vaughters saw it.  But he would have been the only one outside the Garmin team.  Talansky took the (well earned) overall victory on the final stage of the race.

This week's Lucha Vino matchup takes a trip to the south of France with a tour de force through the Cotes du Rhone AOC.

2008 Brian Carter Byzance v. 2011 Alain Jaume & Fils Domaine Grand Veneur Les Champouvins

Washington GSM Blend v. Chateauneuf du Pape

The Pro Cyclists just completed Paris-Nice, also known as the The Race to the Sun.  This traditional early season race starts in Paris and heads South to Nice.  The finish is in the coastal town of Nice (Duh! It is right there in the name of the race).

The final stage of the race was won by Arthur Vichot, the French National Champion.  A great finish that is sure to give a boost to French national pride.

The race touched down near Chateauneuf du Pape for the start of the sixth stage of the race.  That seems like a good enough reason to feature a Washington Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre blend taking on a Chateauneuf du Pape challenger.

2008 Rotie Cellars Southern Blend v. 2010 Domaine du Pere Pape CdP la Crau de Ma Mere

Washington GSM v. Cotes du Rhone

This past weekend featured the World Championship Time Trial and Road Races for men and women.  This is a time of year where you might discover some up and coming talent. It is also a time to see if any of the old guard still have anything left in the tank to push for the coveted rainbow stripes that represent the World Champion.

The racing is a bit different than usual since the teams are all based on nations rather than the usual trade teams in the pro tour.  You get some unusual pairings working to set one another up to win the road race and wear the World Champion Jersey for the next 12 months.  This year's winner, Philippe Gilbert, was supported by one of his primary rivals in the one day classics - Tom Boonen.  Their strategy worked to perfection and Gilbert dropped all his rivals on the final climb up the famous Cauberg and taking the victory and bringing the World Championship home to Belgium for the 26th time.

This past Friday was Grenache day, an up and coming red grape variety found around the world.  In honor of Grenache Day and the surprises that can be found in the World Championship Road Races I opened a Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend from Washington to take on a Cotes du Rhone.

This matchup featured very little Southern Hospitality and a whole lot of Dirty South.

2008 Nota Bene Una Note v. 2007 Ch. Simian Jocandez Cotes du Rhone