Washington Syrah v. Cote-Rotie

The Tour de France is fast approaching and the pros are putting the finishing touches on their form and fitness for the Grand Boucle.  Many teams and riders like to prepare for the big race with shorter, week long, stage races that cover the same territory as le Tour.

Two of the more popular races are Paris-Nice and the Criterium du Dauphine.  Stage 5 of this year's Paris-Nice passed through the Rhone valley giving the sprinters a final chance to battle for victory.  Olav Kooij from the Jumbo Visma squad took the win as his team prepares to support last year's Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard in pursuit of back-to-back victories.

These tune ups are also a great time for Lucha Vino to prepare for this year's challenge with a throw down featuring a Washington Syrah duking it out with a French challenger from the Cote-Rotie AOC.

2020 Succession Wines  Syrah v. 2018 Domaine-Rostaing Ampodium

Washington Syrah vs. Gigondas

As the Tour de France headed South after visiting Burgundy they passed by the Northern Rhone.  Stage 8 departed Macon and finished in St. Etienne.  Thomas De Gendt won the stage covering 200 km and seven categorized climbs for nearly 4,000 metres of elevation gain.

This was also the day that Julian Alaphilipe regained the overall race leader's yellow jersey.

In honor of De Gendt's long range attack, this final installment of the Tour de France challenge features a Washington Syrah taking on Gigondas.

2017 Succession Syrah vs. 2016 Domaine la Bouissiere Gigondas

Washington Syrah v. Crozes Hermitage

The start of the Tour de France is just three weeks away.  The pros will be putting the finishing touches on their preparation for the "biggest bike race in the world" in one of two upcoming week long stage races.

The Criterium du Dauphine takes place this week in the Central/Eastern regions of France.  The racers will cover parts of the Rhone and Savoie regions.

The other option is the Tour de Suise which begins June 9th.

The Dauphine began with a short Prologue Time Trial covering just 5.7 km.  This is a short powerful effort with the racers on their limit for slightly less than 7 minutes.  Syrah is a great companion to this type of powerful effort.

This week's matchup features a Washington state Syrah battling with a Syrah from the Crozes Hermitage region in the Northern Rhone.

2007 Nota Bene Columbia Valley Syrah v. 2006 A. Ogier & Fils Crozes Hermitage Syrah