Another cracking selection of wines matched to six stages of the Tour here but this time all reds.

This one is a bit of a treat with Stage 1 in Italy so, if you are going through Florence then you are drinking Chianti. Tick! From Burgundy and surrounds we have a beautiful Bourgogne and wonderful mineral-laden Beaujolais from two very cool producers. Boris Champy and Clos du Fief. Both share meticulous vineyard work as their hallmarks and represent some of the best coming out of the region.

As we move west we start with one of the best Loire reds we have seen in a long time with Sauveroy. We were all cooing and ahhing when we tried this recently so it was going in! A little Bordeaux is in order of course because how could we not? The 2018 Poitevin is singing right now and is perfect to wipe away those winter blues.

And to finish the latest release Chateauneuf from Domaine Courtedune. Pure and ethereal grenache from one of its great custodians. Finish on a high they say and with this, you won't be disappointed.

Selvapiana Chianti Rufina DOCG 2022

STAGE 1 - HILLY - FLORENCE > RIMINI 206 KM

We love the wines of this historic estate and just north of Sienna its the pefect place to stop and enjoy the ride. For those used to Chianti Classico this is a more sleek and lithe version but in the right hands like Selvapiana is so charming. A must try.

95% Sangiovese with the balance Colorino and Canaiolo. The grapes are hand harvested, then transferred to stainless steel for a twenty day maceration and natural fermentation before being aged in large oak casks of 25 HL for 10 months before being bottled.

Crushed rock and red sour cherry tinged byt citrus peel and and a bit of cracked pepper too. The fruit profile follows on the palated with finely etched tannins running the long length. This is lovely. absolutely lovely. Reminds us of the great Chianti's of yesteryear in all the best ways. 

Dom des Clos du Fief Chenas 'Les Grands Gandelins' 2022

STAGE 6 - FLAT - MÂCON > DIJON 163.5 KM

This is a silky red that packs in layers of red berry fruit, lemon peel, crushed rock and lavender. It’s medium-bodied, supple and deliciously fresh. Drink now or hold. JAME SUCKLING

This is a new one from us and we are looking forward to many more if this is how its going to go. A very pure style and brimming with both fruit an freshness while delivering all that Beaujoalis smokey, mineral goodness. Michel & Sylvain Tête are the couple behind the label and for them it's all about staying out the way and letting the fruit shine. All the work is done in the vineyard with meticulous farming so no need to trick these up in the winery. A bit of a winner for sue and so easy to enjoy. 

Boris Champy Haute Cotes de Beaune Rouge Altitude 2022

STAGE 7  - INDIVIDUAL TIME-TRIAL - NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES > GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN 25.3 KM

Of course its Burgundy for this stage. What else could it be? The wines of Boris Champy are such a delight. Incredible complexity but in an easy drinking and plush package. It's a combo that is hard to beat.

This wine results from the blending of 2 plots: " En Bignon " (clay soil on hard limestone) and " Le Clou" (white chalky soil, significant gravelling on yellow marl) from Nantoux. The complexity and diversity of the different plots is expressed through the wine, which reveals the potential of the Hautes Cotes and the impact of altitude on the wine, which is why the "cuvée" is named after it. Hand harvest at optimum maturity. Winemaking : careful extraction, 50% whole cluster,  wooden fermenters. Barrel aging: 12 months in average with 15% new oak.

Stone fruit, hints of cedar and undergrowth form the aromatic structure of this wine. The palate is very expressive, packed with delicious red and black fruit and showing a nice underlying acidity. This wine is true to the image we have of a perfect Burgundy, immensely pleasurable, refined and very "thirst-quenching".

Sauveroy 'Cuvée Ose Iris' Anjou Rouge 2020 

STAGE 10  FLAT - ORLÉANS > SAINT-AMAND-MONTROND 187.3 KM 

This family estate has been nestled in the heights of the Layon Valley in Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay in Anjou for three generations. The vineyard extends over a beautiful plot of 31 hectares of which 26 hectares are under vine and 5 hectares are in "wild" areas in anticipation of a future plantation or simply to preserve biodiversity. Quentin, Véronique and Pascal Cailleau, the last generations at the head of the domain, manage their vines according to the principles of organic farming, with rigor and precision.

We absolutely loved this at a recent tasting so just had to put it into this pack. Don't be surprised if you hear us talking about it some more because this is what cab franc should be. Soft and supple but countered with some fine powdery tanning and a whicked little crunch to the fruit. It explodes in the glass with raspberry, cherry, redcurrant and balckberry thast just swirls around and around. So vibrant with awesome balance. This one is hard to put down.

Poitevin 2018

STAGE 13 - FLAT - AGEN > PAU 165.3 KM

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Poitevin rolls out of the glass with expressive notes of redcurrant jelly, blackberries and Morello cherries, plus wafts of wild sage and menthol. The medium-bodied palate gives a good amount of crunchy red and black fruits with a soft texture and bags of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. LISA PERROTTO-BROWN, The Wine Advocate

Nose is elegant and oak is well integrated. Notes of vanilla, violets, blackcurrant leaf, dark chocolate and cloves. Palate has same leafy black fruit, discreet oak and pliable but slightly grainy tannins. DECANTER 

Domaine Font de Courtedune Chateauneuf du Pape 2021

STAGE 16 - FLAT - GRUISSAN > NÎMES 

Domaine Font de Courtedune – for now, at least – is something of an insider’s secret. With vineyards right next door to Château Rayas, and sharing the same sandy soils, this tiny Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate produces outstanding wines that are a fraction of the price of those of its famous neighbour. The vineyards have long been owned by the Charrier family, but the fruit was sold to the local co-operative until 1997, when René Charrier established the domaine. Today his children Caroline and Frédéric are in charge.

Everything here is joyously traditional. The old vines (some of which are over 100 years old) are all farmed sustainably, with as little intervention as possible; a philosophy that follows through into the winery. Everything is whole-bunch, fermented and aged in concrete vats, with no oak to be found in the winery at all. They work almost exclusively with Grenache, with just a splash of Mourvèdre, Counoise, Cinsault, and Terret Noir to add extra spice and body to the wines.

An outstanding 2021 Chateauneuf ethereal and fresh, super sleek and wonderfully pretty. It's all about the pure fruit, lilting, sweet cherries, crushed raspberry and a touch of white pepper spice sprinkled in all the right spots. Lovely wine.