Tuesday’s race plays out on the narrow, hilly roads of southwestern France. It departs from the famous town of Carcassonne, which was founded during the Gallo-Roman period, and has been occupied at various times by Romans, Visigoths, and Saracens.  It was absorbed into the Kingdom of France in 1247, creating a secure buffer zone between the French frontier and the territory controlled by the Crown of Aragon. Through strong preservation efforts during the 19^th century, the city was saved from demolition and was designated as an historical monument.  In 1997 UNESCO added Le Cité de Carcassonne to its list of World Heritage Sites.

But, before we start pedaling, here’s a recap of what happened on Stage 3:

Stage 4: Carcassonne to Foix: 182 km; hilly; 4 categorized climbs

After the punishing pace (set by UAE Team Emirates) and the scorching temperatures on Monday, the peloton will turn down the heat on Tuesday. That should provide an opportunity for a breakaway group to succeed. But, then again . . .

Wine Recommendation: 2020 Domaine Des Amiel “A Peissou” ($30; 14.1% abv)

In the southern French village of Montblanc (départment of Hérault) brothers Aymeric and Jordan Amiel carry on the family tradition of winemaking, which dates to the 1400s. They honor that lineage by keeping their winemaking as natural and non-invasive as possible, via certified organic practices. Yields are intentionally kept low, and all fruit is hand-harvested. Sulfur use is minimal.

Tasting Notes and Pairing

85% Syrah; 15% Grenache

This is a luscious, concentrated wine made from 30-year-old vines, aged in a combination of foudres and barriques for one year before bottling. It’s the estate’s “cuvée principale” and pays homage to the winemakers’ great-grandfather, Elisée (aka Peissou), who loved to play the clarinet.

It is intense, with the Syrah character front and center: aromas of ripe crushed blackberries and plum, fresh-ground black pepper, tobacco, and grilled meat. The Grenache lightens things up a bit, offering notes of red cherry and strawberry. On the palate, it is full-bodied but structurally balanced, with grippy tannins and moderate acidity complementing the fruit and checking the higher alcohol. Rich and textured, this is a perfect wine for grilled or roasted red meat.

Pairing? Meat, of course. Herbed grilled lamb chops were perfect!

Thanks for following along! I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of Stage 5 and another wine for you to try.