Washington Grenache vs. Chateauneuf du Pape

Most of the Tour de France stages feature an intermediate sprint to keep things interesting for the sprinters, especially on mountain stages where they are certain to finish way behind the stage winner.

Stage 16 of this year's le Tour featured an intermediate sprint in the town of Chateauneuf du Pape AND a mountain top finish on the famous Mount Ventoux!

In honor of the sprinters, this Lucha Vino matchup features a Washington Grenache taking on a challenger from Chateauneuf du Pape.

2016 Rotie Cellars Little G vs. 2010 Vignobles Mayard Domaine du Pere Pape

Washington Syrah vs. The Rhone

We had to wait almost two months for a delayed Tour de France to begin and, so far, the racing has been dynamic and extremely exciting!

The tour began in Nice traveling along the Southern border of France and through the Pyrenees mountains.  After a rest day, the cyclists began racing to the West heading toward the Alps through the Masif Central mountains, touching the Northern reaches of the Rhone' valley and finishing a lively stage 14 in Lyon.  

Lyon is where we find this week's challenge hero, Stanley Groovy, touring around France on his bicycle and waiting for the Tour to arrive.  Stanley has been making friends, enjoying the local cycling, food and wine and sharing some Washington wine with his hosts throughout Southern France.

One of Stanley's favorite Washington wines is from The Walls in Walla Walla.  Stanley is confident that his favorite can take on any French challenger.  This week's challenge will see if Stanley's choice is up to the task. 

2015 Gaspard Syrah from Red Mountain vs. 2012 La Chaussynette Vin de France from Mas de Boislauzon.

Washington Rose' vs. Provence

The 107th edition of the Tour de France is set to start in just a few days.  After a nearly two month delay, the tour will get underway in Nice on Sunday, which seems fitting since one of the last pre-Covid races to be completed on the normal calendar was Paris-Nice.  

Even though Paris-Nice was run, it still was not exempt from the challenges of the pandemic. The race was shortened by one day, removing the traditional stage in Nice.

When I think of Nice, I think of Southern France.  And when I think of southern France, I think of rose'!

The latest Lucha Vino challenge features a Washington Rose' taking on a Rose' from Provence to celebrate the return of the grand tours.

2018 T2 Cellars Rose' of Counoise vs. 2019 Miraval Rose' from Provence

Washington Pinot Noir v. Burgundy

The Tour de France finished last Sunday with the traditional parade into Paris followed by several high speed laps around the Champs-Elysees.  This year's tour lacked any serious attacking by the top GC contenders.  They all appeared to be biding their time until the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe would crack under the pressure of wearing the Yellow Jersey for nearly the entire race.

Things finally came to life in the last few days that featured three big days of climbing in the French Alps.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and the penultimate climbing stage was cut short due to hail and mud slides.  The racers times were taken at the top of the Col d'Iseran and as a result Alaphillipe finally lost the race lead to Egan Bernal who only had to hold his GC leader position on Stage 20, which also ended up being shortened due to the same mud slides.

The race appeared to be building to a crescendo with Thibaut Pinot showing signs of being the top climber in the tour.  But everything came crashing down on Stage 19.  Not just the hail and mud slides, but also Pinot's race as he retired just 30 kilometers into the stage due to a torn thigh muscle.

This week's challenge pays tribute to Thibaut Pinot, one of France's top racers and strongest hope to once again have a Frenchman win le Tour.

Succession Wines 2017 Pinot Noir v. R. Dubois & Fils 2015 Nuits Saint Georges Burgundy

Washington Cabernet Franc v. Loire Valley

The Tour de France is in full swing!  The race started in the far Northwest of France and headed straight South in the first week.  The racers faced challenges from wind, mountains and themselves while battling for position in the sprint stages.

So far, this year's Grande Boucle has seen a little bit of everything and it is not even half way over!  The only predictable thing is that Chris Froome is, once again, wearing the race leader's yellow jersey.

In the first week of racing the peloton passed through the Loire Valley with stage four starting in Saumur.  This was the longest stage of the race so hopefully the team directors allowed their racers to enjoy a glass of Cabernet Franc with their dinner the night before!

This week's Lucha Vino matchup features a Washington Cabernet Franc taking on a French challenger from Chinon.

Kaella 2012 Cabernet Franc v. Saget la Perriere Marie de Beauregard 2014 Chinon

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

It didn't take long for the pro racers to return to France.  This past week featured a short stage race just outside of Lyon, the Tour de L'Ain  Most of the big names are resting, or racing in other locations.  This gave a young racer from France an opportunity for his first professional victory.  The race is known as the 'race of friendship' and has had a different winner in each of its 25 editions.

There is no friendship in the wrestling ring.  This week features a Rhone inspired Washington Luchador taking the heat to a French challenger from the Cotes du Rhone.

2007 Chateau Faire le Pont Provence v. 2007 J Vidal Fleury Cotes du Rhone

Washington Syrah v. Cotes du Rhone

The Tour raced across the South of France and then made a long transfer via airplane to the far North West of the country where they completed the first Individual Time Trial of le Tour in one of the more unusual locales in France - Mont Saint Michel

I'm heading to France to see some of the racing first hand as the riders race through the Rhone Valley and the French Alps.  This week's challenge is prep work for the Rhone, a Washington Syrah faces a challenger from the Cotes du Rhone.

2010 Guardian Cellars The Informant v. 2011 Saint Cosme Syrah

Washington Rose v. Provence

Hors Delai!  Those two words can be like a knife to the heart of a bike racer.  That is the French phrase for "you missed the time cut" and now you are out of our bike race.  This post is a bit hors delai, but I am defying the Tour organizers and continuing on with the race..

The Tour de France kicked off the 100th edition on the island of Corsica.  It is hard to believe, but this is the first time le Tour has visited this island just to the South of Nice in the Mediterranean Sea.

The first three stages of the tour took place on Corsica and each offered up plenty of thrills and twists.  Stage one featured the Orica-GreenEdge team bus getting stuck under the finish line banner and a big crash that took out the majority of the top sprinters including Mark Cavendish.  Stage two had enough hills that the sprinters were left behind, many of them finish 17 minutes behind the surprise winner, Jan Bakelants, of the RadioShack Leopard team who narrowly beat a charging field by 1 second.  Stage three went a bit more to form, but once again the sprinters were dropped on one of the final climbs and Orica-GreenEdge made up for their embarrassing bus incident with Simon Gerrans taking the sprint victory.

The race left Corsica and blazed a trail across Provence.  That is where we pick up the race route.

This Lucha Vino challenge features a classic Southern France Rose' challenging a Washington Rose' that seeks inspiration from Provence.

Chateau Barbanau Cotes de Provence 2011 L'Instant v. Syncline 2012 Rose

Washington Pinot Noir vs. Burgundy

Things are slowing down on the pro cycling scene while the anticipation for the 100th edition of the Tour de France is building.  This past week saw some action on the Pro Continental scene at the Tour des Pays de Savoie.  The route is in the general vacinity of Burgundy.  That sounds like a good enough reason to break out some Burgundy.

This week's challenge features a Washington Pinot Noir from the Horse Heaven Hills facing off against a Pinot Noir from the Cote Chalonnais sub-region of Burgundy.

2010 Gilbert Cellars Pinot Noir v. 2009 Domaine Michel-Andreotti Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes

Washington Syrah v. Northern Rhone

The pro cyclists are putting the finishing touches on their form for the Tour de France.  There are several 7 or 8 day stage races leading up to the tour that are used for their final tune ups.  Some choose the Criterium du Dauphine.  While others choose the Tour de Suisse.

One advantage to selecting the Criterium du Dauphine is that the race shares a promoter with the Tour de France.  That usually means you get an opportunity to race on some of the same routes that will be used in July for the Grande Bucle.

Team Sky sent their number one racer, Chris Froome, to the Dauphine this year.  Just like they did in 2012 with Sir Bradley Wiggins.  The results in 2013 were the same as 2012 - a general classification win for Team Sky.

This week's matchup features Washington Syrah vs. French Syrah from the Cotes du Rhone.

2006 Nicholas Cole Dauphine v. 2011 Yves Cuilleron Les Vignes d'a Cote

Southern WA v. Chateauneuf du Pape

This week I am featuring a guest post from my friend Richard Foxall.  We are celebrating Paris-Nice, the Race to the Sun, and the anointing of a new Pope with a battle that features a Chateauneuf du Pape challenging a GSM from the South of Washington.

Nothing better than being invited by my good friend Lucha Vino to guest blog, especially when the bicycle race is the Paris-Nice, just wrapped up by Richie Porte, Team Sky member and Australian.  Of course, when I signed up to be Lucha’s equipe, I didn’t know that would be the outcome, or we might have done a tag-team match. 

Battle Royale: Washington vs France

The first stage race of the season in France took place last week through Provence.  The Tour de Med is a 6 stage race that tours through South East France.

This week's matchup features a Southern France inspired wine from Robert Ramsay taking on "the King" of Bandol, a Mourvedre dominant mauler.

2010 Robert Ramsay Par la Mer v. 2010 Domaine Tempier Bandol

Battle in Seattle III - Washington v. Bordeaux

This is the final installment in my End of the World series.  It took a bit longer than I expected to finish off these battles.  Without any further distractions here is the third matchup in the Battle in Seattle.

When you talk about young wines the French trot out something akin to my Grandfather.  So many Bordeaux wines won't even enter the Lucha Vino ring until they have spent a serious decade hiding in the cellar.  These Frenchies want to sleep so long that an entire set of world changing events could pass them by.  The world could actually... uh, end...

The grandaddy from France pays a visit to the new kid on the block from Washington.  

2006 Chateau Landat Hout-Medoc v. 2009 Cloudlift Halcyon

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

Washington BDX Cab Blend v. Left Bank Bordeaux

The Tour de France wrapped up on Sunday with the traditional "parade" on to the Champs-Elysees.  The race for the overall victory is usually determined on the preceding Saturday's stage.  This year, it seems, that the overall victory was decided on stage 7 when Bradley Wiggins took over the yellow jersey.  His Team Sky executed with so much precision and determination it left the other teams in the race wondering what hit them.

So, with the race pretty much "in the bag" could you blame any of the racers for daydreaming about a side trip to Bordeaux when the race reached the finishing town for stage 18 in Brive-la-Gaillarde?  The wine would have been tempting especially considering the 200+ mile bus ride they all had to take to Bonneval for the stage 19 Individual Time Trial.  

In honor of the daydreamers, this week's challenge features a Washington Bordeaux style blend taking on a Left Bank Bordeaux from an Old School producer.

2008 Soos Creek Champoux v. 2009 Lafite Baron's de Rothschild Reserve Speciale Medoc

Tale of the Tape

2008 Soos Creek Champoux

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot all from the Champoux vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA

Purchased from Full Pull Wines for $31.49.

2009 Lafite Baron's de Rothschild Collection Medoc Reserve Speciale

70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot from the Medoc

Aged for 3 - 9 months in 20% new oak barrels.

Purchased from Esquin for $25.99.










Round 1. First opening

The Soos Creek Champoux is ready and raring to go.  Wasting little time and taking the fight straight at the old school Luchador from Bordeaux.  The Soos Creek is showing a nose of red berries, toasted oats and candle wax.  The palate is featuring rich red berries, dark cherries, licorice, clove and menthol that lingers on to the slightly tart spice filled finish. 

Lafite doesn't seem to be taking this New World challenger too seriously.  Getting off to a slow start the Baron has a dark brooding nose of dark berries, cherries, toast and roasted meat with a hint of pepper.  The palate is primarily pie cherry with a tart cedar finish.

The Soos Creek is much more active and lively in the first round taking the first point of the match.

Round 2. One hour after opening

The Soos Creek Luchador is building confidence and spicy swagger.  The nose has character of dark cherry, licorice and dusty semisweet chocolate.  The palate features dark cherry and tart cocoa mixed with notes of coffee bean along with clove and menthol cedar spices that flow on to the finish.

The Baron's corner is trying to stir this mighty giant into action.  Their exhortations seem to be in vain.  The Baron is showing a nose of dark cherry and roasted meats.  The palate features cherries and tart cedar that resolves to the finish.

If the Baron can get its hands on the sprightly Soos Creek Luchador it could mean trouble.  This giant Bordeaux Luchador is packing some damaging dark power.  So far, Soos Creek is using speed and quickness to its advantage taking another round and going up 2-0 on the Baron.

Round 3. One day after opening

This is the last chance for the Baron from Bordeaux.  Can the French Luchador land a devasting knock out punch to the Soos Creek Luchador?  A single body slam from this giant could be enough to end the match in a hurry.

The Soos Creek is clearly aware of the potential disaster that could result from standing still.  Bobbing and weaving this Washington State Luchador is remaining elusive.  The nose is featuring black cherry, licorice and clove spices with hints of wintergreen & coconut.  The palate is big and lush with black cherry, spices, coconut and semisweet chocolate that lingers to the finish along with a bit of eucolyotus.

The Baron is beginning to come alive.  The nose is showing dark cherries, earthy spices and light toast.  The palate is getting spicy with black cherry, all spice and a nice slightly cedar spice tart finish.

Sadly for the Baron, it was too little too late.  Soos Creek takes the final round and the match 3-0.

Wrap up and overall observations.

This match was a study in two different styles.

The Washington Luchador featured plenty of spices, cocoa and lush dark fruit.  Characteristics that seem to be the calling card of many Horse Heaven Hills grapes.  The Champoux fruit definitely proves that this is one of Washington state's top notch vineyards.  Of course, you still need some skill to take quality ingredients and build them into a quality product.  Dave Larson's (the Soos Creek winemaker) skills show through in this fine Bordeaux style blend.

The Baron from Bordeaux was slow to get going.  Brooding and dark on day one.  Then beginning to lighten up a bit on day two.  This wine seems to support the belief that Old World wines need some time to rest in the cellar before enjoying.  This wine was good now, but I could see it being even better in the future.

I give the Soos Creek a solid 90 and the Lafite an 87.

Washington Rose v. Provence

This week the Tour de France route continued South and then took a right turn as the racers brushed by Provence and traced through the Rhone.  There has been plenty of action through le Alpes and then on to some "flatter" stages that still included some leg breaking climbs.  Bradley Wiggins is leading the Tour and his Team Sky domestiques have been controlling the race for the past week.  There are many conclusions after the first two weeks of racing and many believe that Wiggins will wear the Yellow Jersey onto the streets of the Champs-Elysees.

It is summer time and Provence is a region well known for Rose' wines.  The Lucha Vino challenge for this week features a Rose' Rumble.

2011 Tranche Cellars Pink Pape v. 2011 Aix en Provence Rose'

Washington Riesling v. Alsace

This year the first leg of le Tour visited the Alsace wine region in North Eastern france.  This region primarily grows grapes that are also found in Germany and Switzerland due to the proximity.

The racers finish stage 7 on La Planche Des Belles Filles. A Mountain top finish that has never been visited by the tour in its 99 year history.  Team Sky dropped a serious bomb on this stage doing a fine imitation of an Atomic Drop.

To honor the tour boldly going where it has not gone before, the Luchavino challenge features a pair of Rieslings facing off in the ring.  The first time this grape variety has appeared in a match.

Washington Riesling has been garnering quite a bit of attention lately.  Let's see how it fairs against this Old World challenger from Alsace.

Nefarious 2011 Stone's Throw Vineyard Riesling v. Trimbach 2007 Riesling.

Washington Cabernet Franc v. Bordeaux

This Saturday was the Grand Depart for the Tour de France.  This year starts with the traditional prologue, a short intense individual time trial.  Many people call the time trial the "race of truth."  It is the rider versus the clock with nowhere to hide.  Your result is all on you, no help from your teammates, no hiding in the peleton out of the wind waiting to pounce at the last moment.  It is you, and only you, against the sands of time.

The racing begins in Belgium this year and does not land on French roads until Stage 3 on Tuesday.  The Lucha Vino challenge will feature a Cab Franc battle while we wait for the riders to hit France.  Cabernet Franc is a great compliment to the short, intense, all out effort that will be required to win the prologue in Liege.

2008 Hard Row to Hoe Burning Desire Cabernet Franc v. 2010 Ch. Le Pre de La Lande Grand Vin

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