After the torture of the Angliru on Friday, no one would have expected the peloton to charge through the mountains again on Saturday. But that’s exactly what they did, led by UAE’s Marc Soler, who was first to the line, followed by Jonas Vingegaard and Soler’s teammate João Almeida (currently first and second in the GC classification.)

Other contenders who fared well on the stage were Jai Hindley, Felix Gall, Matthew Riccitello, and Giulio Pellizzari. However, Sunday’s race through the steep mountains and fjords of Ribeira Sacra (see the photo above) promises more pain, with two categorized climbs plus a dozen more that will tax tired legs. Straight out of the gate, riders will face a Category 1 monster that could determine the outcome of the race.

As usual, I wonder what Team UAE’s strategy will be: support Almeida in pursuit of the GC? Or every man for himself? Based on what I’ve witnessed during the past two weeks, I hope Almeida’s legs are feeling good!

Note: In response to multiple protests throughout the Vuelta, Team Israel Premier Tech has decided to outfit its squad in alternate jerseys that do not include the word “Israel.” Their hope is to mitigate the danger to their riders and others. I hope it works!

What’s Up for Stage 15?

As you can see from the profile map, it’s gonna be an ugly day. Tough climbs from start to finish, no rest for the weary. I think it will come down to how individual riders feel after two difficult, drama-filled weeks. Team support will be critical for the GC contenders, as will proper hydration and caloric intake throughout the stage. Visma looks strongest at this point, with Bora-Hansgrohe and Decathlon in the running. UAE is always a toss-up. Should be exciting!

Vuelta Vaso de Vino Recommendation: 2023 A Chingao Vineyards and Envínate Misturado de Abeleda ($49.99; 13% abv)

Envínate (“wine yourself”) is the brainchild of Laura Ramos, Jose Martínez, Roberto Santana and Alfonso Torrente, four friends who met while studying winegrowing at the University of Miguel Hernández in Alicante. Their work, both in the vineyard and winery, is focused on exploring the ancient, Atlantic-infused terruños of Ribeira Sacra and the Canary Islands, as well as exceptional vineyard plots across the Iberian Peninsula. The Envínate philosophy is simple: let each parcel fully express itself in the finished wine by utilizing old-fashioned farming and winemaking methods.

Misturado de Abeleda is sourced from a centenarian parcel located in Ribeiras do Sil, whose plantings are about 70% red and 30% white grapes. 

This wine is a field blend, with about 65% red grapes (Mencia, Brancellao, Alicante Bouschet, Mouraton, Gran Negro) and 35% white grapes (Godello, Torrontes, Treixadura, Albariño, Doña Branca). Grapes come from a plot of 80-year-old vines at roughly 650m above sea level by the Sil river, atop gneiss and schist soils.

Grapes were harvested together and foot trodden, then fermented 100% whole-cluster in a single 1000L concrete tank without temperature control with 36 days of maceration on the skins. After fermentation, the wine rested in 350L and 228L barrels for 11 months before bottling without fining, filtering, or added SO2.

Tasting Note and Pairing

Deep purple color, like fresh blackberry juice. There’s a little funk on the nose at first, but it blows off after sitting open for an hour. Then there are notes of red and black fruit, caramel, fresh basil, and tomato leaf. The palate is slightly astringent, with fine tannins and medium acidity. It’s medium-bodied with flavors of blackberry, cherry, cranberry, and ending on a floral note.

This wine intrigued me: I kept trying to figure it out, to categorize it and put it in a box. That didn’t happen! Instead, Gabe and I kept sipping it over the course of an evening, getting excited over the new aromas and flavors that emerged. Yeah, very geeky . . .

Verdict? I really enjoyed this wine. It was unlike anything I’ve tasted, which makes sense given how it was grown and made. The Misturado was lovely with a roasted pork tenderloin seasoned with Italian herbs but was just as delightful on its own. Would I buy it again? Yes, if it were on sale. At its everyday price of $50, this was a little spendy for me. But I’ll keep an eye out for the next Astor Wines flash sale!

Enjoy the stunning scenery of Ribeira Sacra on Sunday! Monday’s a rest day, but I’ll be back soon with info on Tuesday’s stage and the wine to pair with it.