Wines of the Giro Stage 9 : Belkov & Valgiano Palistorti Bianco

http://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2013/zoom/planimetria_09.jpg

Sansepolcro - Firenze 170 km

From the Garibaldi: Stage through the Appennine Mountains, with two long climbs (Passo della Consuma and Vallombrosa). First part flat, interrupted by a sharp ascent at Anghiari and a short climb at Scheggia. Those two climbs follow Bibbiena (intermediate sprint) and Poppi, after which there is a descent to Pontassieve (intermediate sprint) before the climbs of Vetta le Croci and then Fiesole before reaching Firenze.

The last climb finishes at Fiesole, about 10 km from the finish line. Fast descent to 5 km from the finish line, then passing through the eastern part of Firenze. After the bridge over the Arno, right turn and from 1.500 m the climb begins on a normal road with hairpins. Finish line after a 100 m straight. Road width 6 m, surfaced with asphalt. 

 A day for the break? A day for Giovanni Visconti, who lives nearby? Also of note is that the stage is essentially a dress rehearsal for the 2013 World Championship Road Race. The current world champion,Philippe Gilbert, is of course not at the Giro, but is at the Tour of California, which starts today. First rest day tomorrow.
Rain at the finish is the first update of the morning, followed by news of a large break with: Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani Valvole), Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), Juan Manuel Garate (Blanco), Fabio Felline (Androni Giacattoli), Robinson Chalapud (Colombia), Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia), Ricardo Mestre (Euskaltel), Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Michel Golas (OPQS), Tobias Ludvigsson (Argos-Shimano), AlessandronProni (Vini Fantini) and Evgeni Petrov (Saxo-Tinkoff). With about 80 km to go their gap was around 4:45. 
TeamSky 6:04am via Web

We're on the descent off the Passo della Consuma. Biggest climb of the #Giro so far. Some damp roads. Break has split up front. 81km to go

Behind, Astana was at the front of the peoton,  protecting the race lead of Vincenzo Nibali. 

opqscyclingteam 6:10am via TweetDeck

76km to go, 26" to the chasers, 5'08" to the maglia rosa group. #Giro

From the Guardian: With 65 kilometres to go, Belkov rejoins Perazzi and Chalapud, who are faffing about playing cat-and-mouse in their bid to take maximum King of the Mountains points for being first over Vallombrossa. On Eurosport, Sean Kelly says they shouldn't be doing this, because with a lead of over six minutes on the pink jersey group, they're in a powerful position. He reckons that this trio could hold on to carve up the stage between them if they all pull together.

giroditalia 6:46am via Web

Stefano Pirazzi (BAR) is the new Maglia Azzurra (mountain classification) and now he's leading the race with Chalapud (COL). #giro

With 52.8 km to go, Belkov caught and passed Pirtrazzi and Chalapud on the descent of the Vallombrosa. They were followed by a group of four: Garate, Pantano, Mestre and Petrov, with the rest of the earlier break group out there somewhere. It was pouring and the pink jersey group was over six minutes behind.
opqscyclingteam 7:12am via TweetDeck

40.2km to go. Splits in the peloton. 1'45" Belkov to chasers, 6'56" to the maglia rosa group. Wiggins is in a group 7'37" back. #Giro

With 37 km to go, Wiggins had dropped even further back, with the peloton at 7:29 and his group at 8:24. 

nealrogers 7:23am via TweetDeck

David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) on front, driving Nibali/Astana maglia rosa group to keep Wiggo gapped off, move Hesjedal up a spot on GC #Giro

opqscyclingteam 7:29am via TweetDeck

28.4km to go. Gaps: 3'01" to Group 2 (w/Golas of #OPQS), 5'42" to maglia rosa group, 7'19" to Wiggins group. #Giro.

BMC, Astana and Garmin pushed on, hoping to gain more time on Wiggins. In front, Belkov continued to lead. But, Wiggins made it back, with two more wet descents ahead. 

DavidWalshST 7:44am via Web

Wiggins definitely back on looking comfortable on the climb, but he needs to move to the front to be in good position for start of descent.

Ahead, the gap to Belkov was dropping.

From twitter, a reminder that I have to start sourcing wines for the Tour de France:

Vaughters 7:50am via Web 

Apparently I need to hope for rain the TdF.... That really puts a damper on my vineyard visits.

giroditalia 8:00am via Twitter for iPhone

Belkov 12 km to go, behind him Ludvigsson e Pantano / Belkov a 12 km, lo inseguono Pantano e Ludvigsson #giro

At the end, Maxim Belkov took the stage win for Katusha after a fine solo effort. The the biggest victory of the 28-year-old's career by a considerable margin. Great win for him, good recovery by Wiggins and a bad day for last year's winner Ryder Hesjedal who came in a minute down on his rivals.

 Stage:

1	Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha	4:31:31
2	Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) AG2R La Mondiale	0:00:44
3	Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia	0:00:46
4	Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano	0:00:54
5	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:01:03
6	Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team
7	Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia
8	Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia
9	Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
10	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team

GC:

 

1	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team	34:19:31
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	Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling	0:02:11
7	Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	0:02:43
8	Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida	0:02:44
9	Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling	0:02:49
10	Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team	0:03:02

Palistorti Valgiano Toscana 2011, $23.99
From 67 Wine: A blend of 50% Vermentino, 25% Trebbiano and Malvasia, 25% Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Ten per cent of the Vermentino is fermented in barriques and the remainder in stainless steel at 10° C to preserve the intense and fruity aroma with a hint of grapefruit and pineapple. It is pleasantly fresh on the palate and the acidity is balanced by considerable body. A warm but harmonious wine with ample aftertaste. A structured white in Mediterranean style, but with aromatic dignity and exceptional quality. Certified Biodynamic.

From the producer: The Tenuta di Valgiano's 16 hectares of vineyards stand on a terrace of pebbles and clayey alberese rocks. The vines are between 6 and 40 years old and there are 5700 plants per hectare. Organic and biodynamic farming have been adopted: careful management of the soil through seeding leguminous, gramineae and aromatic plants, sensitive use of tillage, clay, copper and sulphur treatments only, biological action against parasites, and sensitive management of the leaf canopy. Analyses are carried out on the deep layers of soil in order to gain a better understanding of the natural vine-climate-soil balance and therefore ensure that this balance is maintained.

palistorti bianco: Vermentino 50%, Trebbiano & Malvasia 25%, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc 25%

Ten per cent of the Vermentino is fermented in barriques and the remainder in stainless steel at 10° C to preserve the intense and fruity aroma with a hint of grapefruit and pineapple. It is pleasantly fresh on the palate and the acidity is balanced by considerable body. A warm but harmonious wine with ample aftertaste. A structured white in Mediterranean style, but with aromatic dignity and exceptional quality .
 

I say: Light, fresh, citrus with minerals. As it warms up, the fruit comes through and I can taste that hint of pineapple. Excellent.