After Monday’s rest day, the fight for the maglia rosa will intensify, with the GC favorites racing individually against the clock. While the course is mostly flat, it is unusually long (42 km) and, depending on weather conditions, could be affected by coastal winds or rain.

If you didn’t catch the race on Sunday, it was an exciting battle among Jonas Vingegaard and Felix Gall: Gall closed the final kilometers at a fast and furious pace, finishing just 12 seconds behind the odds-on favorite! Jai Hindley outraced his teammate (and GC leader) Giulio Pellizzari, who lost over four minutes on the day. Sure to fuel speculation about Team Red Bull-Bohra-Hansgrohe’s strategy going forward.

Here’s a recap:

Wine Recommendation: 2021 Bulichella Rubino (Costa Toscana Rosso IGT)

Last year I had the opportunity to meet Nicolò Miyakawa, grandson of Hideyuki and Marisa Miyakawa, founders of La Bulichella, which lies in the Suvereto DOCG, north of Maremma near the Tuscan coast. Its vineyards lie adjacent to those of Bolgheri, where Bordeaux varieties were blended with Sangiovese and other local grapes to make the first Super Tuscan wines. The entire region lies atop an alluvial plain created by the confluence of the Cornia, Milia, and Massera Rivers. From a distance, it resembles a huge amphitheater opening westward, to the sea.

Click here to read more about the history of Bulichella, the special soils and microclimate that lend a unique character to the wines, and a fabulous story about Hideyuki’s cross-continental motorcycle trip that brought him to Italy!

Over lunch we tasted several of the property’s wines, all of which I enjoyed. Today I’m featuring Bulichella’s standard bearer, Rubino, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Notice the label art, which features two adult wild boars with seven babies, seeming to enjoy themselves in the vineyard. Nicolò explained how the illustration came to be: wild boars are common in Suvereto and indeed enjoy romping through the vineyards. But what’s really fun is that the adult animals represent his grandparents Hideyuki and Marisa, and the babies are their seven children!

An intense ruby red, the Rubino had lush red fruit aromas (cherry, plum) and smooth, soft tannins, crisp acidity and a long finish. A perfect with Locanda Verde’s “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” which was stuffed with spare rib and pork belly.

Enjoy the time trial. See you back here tomorrow with a preview of Stage 11 and another great Italian wine to match!