Tour De France Tasting 2024

STAGE 3  - FLAT MON - PLAISANCE > TURIN 230.8 KM

Born in Turin, the city where the deep roots of Vermouth originated back in 1786. The name "TURIN VERMOUTH" takes inspiration from the historicity of the fine products produced from secret family recipes and the liqueur tradition of the Piedmont capital.

The production comes exclusively from Piedmontese territory with the main raw material of Artemisia Absinthium grown or harvested in Piedmont, moreover, only sugar, grape must, caramelized sugar or honey can be used as a sweetener.  Composed of at least 50% of wines produced in Piedmont and flavored, even if not exclusively, with herbs grown or harvested in Piedmont. It's pretty special stuff and an obvious choice for Stage 3.

Now, the question is do you want to just enjoy it on ice with a slice of lemon or do you want something with a little more oomph? Either way, you will love it and while we would prefer the former if we were sitting in some summer Italian sun we might be up for a white Negroni here in the middle of winter. So if that's your bag check out the recipe below. WE've made sure to include Lillet here too so it's the perfect Tour combo of French & Italian!

30ml gin - Haymans is our choice
30ml Turin Vermouth Drapo Vermouth Bianco 16% alc
20ml Lillet Blanc
15ml grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
1 grapefruit peel, for garnish

Combine and stir gently but patiently in a rock glass then garnish with citrus peel

STAGE 4 – Flat – Carcassonne to Foix – 181.9 km

Michel Chapoutier's Roussillon outpost continues to turn out multiple cuvées of very good to excellent quality. The larger-production stuff offers excellent value, while the single-parcel selections—produced in quantities as small as 127 cases (the 2019 Coullioure Chrysopée)—can rival some of the wines Chapoutier produces at home in the Northern Rhône.

A blend of 55% Syrah and 45% Grenache, the 2021 Cotes du Roussillon Villages is composed mostly of purchased wine. Aged in concrete and stainless steel, it's cherry-scented but more savory on the medium-bodied palate, with undertones of dusty earth and dried spices, finishing with soft tannins. JOE CZERWINSKI, The Wine Advocate

Michel Chapoutier hardly needs an introduction. One of the Rhône Valley's great names, the family has become internationally renowned for producing benchmark wines from Hermitage through to Australia. While the northern Rhône remains the spiritual home of the estate, Chapoutier recognised the enormous potential of neighbouring Roussillon decades ago, investing heavily in old vineyards and helping redefine perceptions of the region. Today the Bila-Haut wines remain some of France's great value bottles.

Drawn from old bush vines rooted in the rocky schist and gneiss soils of the Agly Valley, Bila-Haut combines Grenache, Syrah and Carignan into a wine that beautifully balances Mediterranean warmth with remarkable freshness. Traditional fermentation and restrained oak maturation allow the fruit and rugged landscape to take centre stage. Rustic charm meets polish, making this one of the benchmarks for affordable southern French reds.

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

This sparkling Burgundy (not to be confused with the old term for Aussie sparkling red) is made entirely from Chardonnay and, honestly, it's a mystery as to how something this good comes at this price. The wine is produced by an estate which is over 100 years old, from premium vineyards and spent 9 months in bottle developing a gentle complexity before release. Light, crisp and fun, it's a fizz which won't break the bank and seriously over delivers.

OK so its not the usual Champs-Élysées finish and this stage isn't even the finish line but we have to have a sparkling at some point. This is cracking stuff, unbelievable good value for the money, lovely fruit but crunchy and dry. Perfect to wet the whistle after a quick sprint.