Stage 8

From McDuff's Food and Wine Trail:
Stage 8, Sunday, July 11: Station des Rousses > Morzine-Avoriaz (189 km)
The first day in the high Alps, starting in the Jura and ending in the Haut-Savoie, all the while within a stone's throw (or two) of Lake Geneva.

Otherwise known as the day Lance fell down a lot and eventually fell off the back. Our first so-called hard mountain stage. And an exciting day it was. We had early crashes, Lance yo-yo-ing, Vino attacking and dropping, Schleck the younger taking time off Contador on the final ascent and winning the stage, giving hope to all non Contador fans. And, as Versus coverage could not let us forget, the end of Lance Armstrong's hopes for a final tour victory. I admit it, I was up at 4:30 to watch and may have screamed at the tv a few times far too early on a Sunday morning.

Stage winner: Andy Schleck
Yellow: Cadel Evans
Green Thor Hushovd

To drink: Dom. Labbé 2009 Abymes (Vin de Savoie)

They say: The Savoie region, hard by Lake Geneva, can barely produce enough to meet the demands of winter sports enthusiasts and summer hikers, but we’ve been lucky enough to secure one of its top estates. Abymes, and its slightly better-known neighbor Apremont, produce light, aromatic, exquisitely balanced wines from the Jacquère grape. The brothers Labbé keep yields low to extract maximum flavor from this delicate variety, while retaining freshness and sheer pleasure-giving gulpability.

I say: Probably doing it a disservice by pairing it with my Tour viewing popcorn. Alas, after that 4:30 wake up call I'm not up for cooking dinner. Fruit on the nose with nice acid balance. Crisp and refreshing refreshing means that I could drink quite a bit of this. If we had summer this time of year it would be a perfect summer wine. Maybe for September?