Wines of the Giro Stage 8: Dowsett & Fattoria Di San Lorenzo Verdicchio

http://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2013/zoom/planimetria_08.jpg

Gabicci Mare - Saltara 54.8km ITT  

Time trial time. The question of the day, of course, is whether or not Bradley Wiggins can make up enough time to put himself in or close to pink. From twitter:

chrisbevan_bbc 10:16am via web

David Brailsford on Bradley Wiggins' Giro hopes after Friday's crash. "Really it's about how much balls he's got now, isn't it? Lets race."

From the Garibaldi: 54.8 km time trial. First 24 km on Monte di Gabicce: climb, false flat and descent, continuous left and right bends with no straight sections worthy of note. Crossing of Pesaro (split time point) with some sections of narrow road with road surface in paving slabs. A mostly flat section follows as far as the short climb (steep in parts) at Novilara. There follow several kilometres of narrow roads, sometimes descending with technical bends, leading to the long straight of Via Flaminia. After about 12 straight and mostly flat kilometres the final climb begins.

The day started with this weather report and a look at the early pre-video leaders:

giroditalia 5:52am via Web Rain, sun, rain again, wind, no wind: variable weather in Saltara. Now: Dowsett 1.16.27; Clement 32''; Dorbridge 37'' #giro

Sadly, my team's hope for the day, Taylor Phinney had this to say about his ride

Taylor Phinney ‏@taylorphinney 2m

#GiroTT Yeah right! It would appear that I am still recovering from my little mid race sickness. Very happy that is over... #torture

After his time loss yesterday, Bradley Wiggins or Sir Bradley if you prefer, was the first of the GC favorites to start. Expectations for this ride were very high as pre-race it had been assumed that he would use this time trial to gain significant time over his rivals. Early on he looks strong, even passing a rider on the course. 

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/11/4321044/giro-ditalia-stage-8-live#comments

 And then a problem. Mechanical? Unclear, but a bike change. 

nealrogers 6:27am via TweetDeck

After just 18 min, Wiggins has mechanical problem, pull over, tosses TT bike, goes back for bottle, takes spare bike, gets going again #Giro

A grab for his water bottle and a push and he was off again. At the halfway point, despite the change, he was at 7th position. Behind, the next of the favorites to start was Cadel Evans, who got very close to a wall at the start of his stage. 

From Jonathan Vaughters, a couple of interesting tweets:

Vaughters 6:47am via Twitter for iPhone

Here we are, the day the Giro gets decided. Not necessarily who will win, but today decides who won't win.

Vaughters 6:54am via Twitter for iPhone

I emailed @wegelius 3 days ago and said "Wiggo has the same stomach bug as Cataldo, Sky are just keeping quiet on it..." That's my take.

Back on the course, Evans sure looked aggressive. Ahead, despite his issues, Wiggins came in with the second best time of the day so far. Heck of an effort on the second half of the course for Wiggins. 

My favorite tweet of the day:

ukcyclingexpert 7:37am via Twitter for iPhone

Hearing rumours that, as well as changing his bike, when cameras weren't on him Sir Bradley Wiggins was attacked by a herd of rhinos!

In the end, Alex Dowsett (Movistar)won the stage with Astana's Vincenzo Nibali moved into the overall lead. Dowsett beat out Bradley Wiggins (Sky) by 10 seconds and Tanel Kangert (Astana) by 14 seconds for the win.

Stage:

1	Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar Team	1:16:27
2	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:00:10
3	Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team	0:00:14
4	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team	0:00:21
5	Stef Clement (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:00:32
6	Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge	0:00:35
7	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:39
8	Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:00:45
9	Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling	0:00:53
10	Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida

 GC

	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:29
3	Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:01:15
4	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:01:16
5	Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida	0:01:24
6	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp	0:02:05
7	Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling	0:02:11
8	Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	0:02:43
9	Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida	0:02:44
10	Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling	0:02:49

 

Fattoria Di San Lorenzo Verdicchio Riserva Vigna Delle Oche 2010 $ 21.99
From 67 Wine: This is the third of Natalino's 5 Verdicchio labels... none of which see wood, and all of which are completely different. The natural weight and 'oily' texture (at times almost reminiscent of a Riesling texture) and nutty nature of this varietal can give the impression that it has seen barrel aging, however this is never the case with Natalino. The beautiful citrus acidity combined with this 'nuttiness' and weight make it a varietal, that similar to the diverse cuisine of Le Marche, make it a white wine that can pair with fish as well as meat. This incredible expression of Verdicchio is possible only with the particular terrior and climatic conditions of these hills, it is an easy variety to fall immediately in love with.
Certified Organic

From the producer (with help from Google translate):

Year of foundation: handed down from fatherin family for generations
Year 1 bottling: 1995
Common area and production: Castelli di Jesi, Montecarotto (AN)
Grapes: 100% Verdicchio
Name: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore
Name / extension of the vineyards: Vigna delle Oche San Lorenzo (Montecarotto)
Exposure: south-west
Altitude: 380 meters s.l.m.
Soil type: mixed - sandy and clay
Average age of vines: 10 years
Fermentation in stainless steel
Yeasts used: indigenous
Duration of aging in wood: it does not
Tion dell'affi Duration: 12 months on the lees in stainless steel, 4 months in bottle
Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
Organic and / or biodynamic: Biodynamic
Number of bottles produced: 14.000

I say: Rich and full. Lots of nuttiness. As mentioned above, I would have assumed barrel ageing.