The region through which we’re pedaling today is chock-full of history: just west of Pau, our arrival city, lies Lescar, home to the Romanesque cathedral of Nôtre Dame de l’Assomption. Originally called Beneharnum (aka Béarn) the ancient town offers panoramic views of the nearby Pyrénées Mountains. It’s also an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, which the faithful have traversed for hundreds of years.

But before we begin, here’s a quick recap of the action on Stage 4:

Stage 5 will be one of the few in this year’s Tour dedicated to the sprinters. It’s mostly flat, with just one categorized climb toward the end. Might we have a repeat of Stage 4, with Mads Pedersen outpedaling the other fast men to the finish line?

Wine Recommendation: 2022 Domaine Nigri Jurançon Sec Confluence ($22; 14.5% abv)

About Domaine Nigri

Domaine Nigri is located in Monein, in the heart of the Jurançon appellation, and its vineyards face south, toward the Pyrénées. It has been producing Jurançon Dry and Sweet wines since the seventeenth century. The property is a traditional Béarnaise building, and its vines, which extend over 15 hectares through the Béarn hillsides, are certified organic.

​This wine is a blend of 80 % Gros Manseng, 10% Camaralet, 10% Lauzet, all varieties native to this part of France. Camaralet and Lauzet are not so easy to find these days. According to winemaker Jean-Louis Lacoste:

Domaine NIGRI is one of the few winegrowers to have kept Lauzet and Camaralet in its grape varieties. Their aromatic and gustatory potential balances the liveliness of Gros Manseng and gives it a touch of complexity. It’s the “pleasure” wine.

Vinification was completed in stainless steel vats with cold stabilization. The wine was aged on its lees for six months prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes and Pairing

Deep lemon color, with pronounced aromas of ripe yellow peach, Bosc pears, and honey. On the palate, it is weighty but not heavy, with ripe fruit character – think yellow apple/pear, honeysuckle, and that savory note present in fresh honey. Acidity is moderate, and there is a bit of texture, perhaps due to a short maceration on the skins? It finishes with a hint of honey sweetness.

The Domaine Nigri Confluence was a surprisingly good match with a green lentil salad studded with diced baby carrots, feta cheese, and red onion. The honey vinaigrette was a homerun with the wine, making for a really pleasant meal. I also think this wine would be awesome with a selection of cheese, from Southwest France, of course!

Enjoy Wednesday’s race and the beautiful scenery of Pau. I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of Stage 6 (it’s a whopper of a race!) and a wine to match.

Cheers!