Monday, July 7, 2014

Wines of the Tour Stage 3: Kittel (Again) and Fernando Castillo en Rama fino

Where are we: Starting the day in Cambridge, best known as the home of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209. 
Specialities from le Tour: Fitzbillies Chelsea buns, Trinity cream (which appears to be much like creme brulee)

 And we finish in London: I think I can skip the random facts for this one, though how could I not include the Le Tour Specialities: English breakfast (a hearty breakfast), fish and chips, cheese cake, apple pie, pudding, beer, tea




Le Tour preview: A short 155 km stage to the British capital, which gave the Tour de France an unforgettable welcome in 2007. A prestigious stage which will take the peloton alongside the Olympic Park and London's most famous landmarks before finishing opposite Buckingham Palace. Of course, with everything pointing towards a mass sprint, the spotlight will back on Cavendish. Will he be at the top of his game? I think so. But one thing is for sure: the crowds will turn out in force, as large and fiery as seven years ago.

 The race: A very flat sprint stage today. If only Cav had not crashed. With him out, the favorite for the day is Marcel Kittlel, though as I said on Twitter, without Cav I may be cheering for the breakaway on sprint stages. On a positive note though, K felt so bad about Cav that she made me a blueberry buckle. 

 Route info from "Addict" on Podium Cafe: "I reckon the last 3 corners are pretty right for a TDF sprint. It’s on my commute home and I am not sure I would want to take any of them at 60kph. Plus Birdcage Walk has speed bumps on it (unless they have taken them out over the last 7 days).
I think if u can get into the turn into Parly Square (called great George street in the map) with a train of 3-4 riders, it’s going to be hard for others to get by. Final straight is prob 400m so not that much time to wind it up if u r behind. Nail it along the embankment and then try and he on would bd my call. Embankment is straight and FAST, but judging by where they had the barriers this morning, not hugely wide (2 lanes)." 


 Another day of amazing crowds and at the start, good weather. So far Tour weather > Giro weather. 
Our break of the day: Barta and Bideau and they had a quick gap of 2'58" after 9,1 kilometers. Given that neither rider is a threat, the peloton would be happy to have them would dangle out front for a long while. Sure enough, dangle they did as the riders passed more amazing crowds. 
Meanwhile in Tour weirdness (More here) :


75 kilometers to go and the gap was hovering around 2:25. For all of the criticism of the NBCSN coverage over the years, I must applaud their addition of Christian Vande Velde. He has been excellent so far.
Ahead:


At the intermediate sprint, Coquard once again took the maximum points from the field. Sprint done: it was time for shots of London in the distance. Or on the French feed: Londres. While we were on commercial a crash involving Ted King and Andy Schleck. Apparently a spectator went down as well. Spectators and their desire for selfies have become an issue already in this year's race. 


Meanwhile: 27.9km to go, the gap was 2’08 and dropping quickly. As they got closer to the finish: rain. 16 kilometers to go and the gap was down to 1:10. 10 kilometers and it was down to 30 seconds. With eight kilometers to go, Barta  attacked his break mate. Soon enough though, he was caught. Quick Step to the front. Were they working for Renshaw or Petacchi? Then came Giant-Shimano and Lotto. Lots of fingers crossed they would all stay upright. At the end, an easy win for Marcel Kittel.



Stage: Marcel Kittel
Yellow: Vincenzo Nibali

Wine: Fernando Castillo en Rama fino
From Frankly Wines

Why Sherry for this stage?
From Wines from Spain:
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpuf
"Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” "
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpuf
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpuf
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpuf
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpuf
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpuf

 I say: I am not much of a sherry drinker, but Christy talked me into it. Besides, there is a Sherry revivial going on.
So this is a fino, which are dry and pale in color and made from the Palomino grape. 
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpuf
To learn something about the specifics of  "En Rama" I suggest reading this article from Peter Liem in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Sherry is associated with the British people, and they have had a passion for the wine since 1587, when the Spanish Armada was crippled, its stores were sacked, and Sir Francis Drake’s fleet made off with the equivalent of 180,000 cases of Sherry. Shortly thereafter, Shakespeare’s Falstaff was toasting the wine as “sherris sack.” The region is named for the town of Jerez de la Frontera, the frontier in question being the frontier that, from 1264 to 1492, formed the barrier between the ruling Moors and the rest of Iberia. It must have been an inebriated Englishman, drunker than Falstaff, who mispronounced “Jerez” as “Sherry.” - See more at: http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions/andaluc%C3%AD#sthash.0Cebc04L.dpufTo learn something about the specifics of  "En Rama" I suggest reading this article from Peter Liem in the San Francisco Chronicle. Indeed, this Sherry is golden yellow. and both Nutty and salty. Visiting friend says round and full.  Served very cold with a cured meat plate.
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