Stage 20 Plat de Jour? Rosbif

Well it's all over folks. Congratulations to Braddles Wiggles the first Pom or Rosbif as they say in France, to win the Tour of France. Like him, love him or loath him, you have to admire the way he has ridden over the last 3 weeks, and the time he clocked last night proves why he was the favorite going into this Grand Tour. The fact that he has awesome big sideys & that he slowed the Peloton when Cadel had an attack of the tacks the other night means that we think he's ok - sort of.

We dearly hoped Cadel would go back to back this year, but to be honest, he never really looked in with much of a chance. Wiggins was always the one to beat right from the start, and he had a stellar team to help ensure that he got to Paris in yellow.

Tonight the peloton rolls into Paris from Rambouillet & there are a couple of little climbs worth one point each, the result of which won't make any difference to the Polka-dot Jeursey standings which little Tommy Voeckler has in the bag.

The young Gorilla Sagan has Green in the bag too, but like sprinters the world over we're sure there will be some hustle & bustle at the intermediate sprint and of course for the big finish on the Champs-Elysées where the Manx Missile, Sagan, Gossy & Greipel the Gorilla will be pedaling for glory- it's guaranteed!

Our pick: For about the 10th time this tour - Go Gossy Go. This is your last chance - dive into the suitcase of courage & have a crack!

Drink Match: Champagne - enjoy a celebratory flute or two of something fresh and bright. A toast to the victors & for more sleep ahead!

A local drop: We love good Australian fizz here, if you haven't been able to track down any Sabre by MH by now, look for some methode traditional fizz from the likes of Clover Hill, Chandon or Brown Brothers who rarely disappoint.

This will be the last MH Le Tour post until next year.

Stay tuned for more blog activity as our eyes focus across the English Channel to London where the Olympics will be sure to inspire more unpredictable predictions with booze to match.

Au Revoir from Mitch & Johnno.

Stage 19 - The Race of Truth!

It was hard & fast last night & the Manx Missile did not disappoint. Another stage podium finish for Gossy who like every one else was caught off guard by big Cav who wound up his machine from about 500 m out & shot past everyone in a bit of a blur. More beast than man is the Missile.
Whilst Gossy missed out, what a ride by young Aussie Adam Hansen who's last 20 km offensive was sensational.

We are up to Stage 19 & it is the final time trial before the ride into Paris tomorrow. Remember this time last year folks? This was the stage where Cadel blitzed the field to close the gap & take the yellow juersey.

The 5 riders ahead of Cadel this year will all start after him, and unless all of them run into straying dogs, maniacal fans, packets of tacks or wandering cattle en route to Chartres, then Cadel's chance of capturing yellow again are essentially impossible.

Wiggins blitzed the stage 9 TT & will likely do the same again here. Given the awesome support he has had from team Sky, his legs should be up to it. Or will team mate Froome have a crack for some previously denied glory? Regardless, the race of truth will be fascinating to see who's got what left in the tank.

Our Pick: Froome to open up a can FU Wiggins & grab a stage win.

Drink Match:
The riders set off from Bonneval just North of the Loire Valley - It's a smorgasbord of lesser known (or loved?) varieties here. Take your pick from sweet Chennin wines of Anjou, the spicy & fruity Cabernet Franc of Chinon, the long-lived Chenin Blanc of Vouvray or the steely and flinty Sauvignon Blancs of Pouilly & Sancerre.

Aussie Match:

White: Get on the local Fumé Sauvignon Blanc styles - try the 3 Monks from Taltarni, the Gembrook Hills Sauv Blanc or try & track down our own newly released 2012 MH Sauvignon Blanc Fumé for Sauv Blanc with texture & complexity - say good bye to fruit tingles & Battery Acid!

Red: Try & track down the racy & infamous Mon Petite Francine by Gary Mills of Jamsheed wines - lip smakin' racy goodness!

Nearly home... MH Tour Blog Stage 18 Preview

With the peaks of the Pyrenees behind them, the jerseys for their year's Le Tour have all but been decided. That means it's time for someone to snatch some glory with a stage win prior to Paris. And with just a few climbs, the way is open for any sprinter still with the puff after the last climb to go for it.

Profile c/o letour.fr

Wiggins has the Maillot Jaune sewn up and onto himself, Sagan the green one, and Voeckler that nice spotty one you get for climbing mountains. Expect them to play fairly safe tonight, and it's time for someone else to have a crack at the stage win tonight.


OUR PICK: We've been tipping it for weeks now, it's time for GO GO GOSSY to pick up a stage win in a flat-out charge to the finish.

DRINK MATCH: We're just east of Bordeaux and the Dordogne here at the finish tonight, so it's time for a nice glass of claret... See if you can find a Cotes de Bergerac for a close-by tipple.

AUSSIE MATCH: Right, into Bordeaux-style material from down under, lets think some icons:
I'd go Yarra Valley for the Mount Mary Quintet myself, but for the other side of country, you'd be hard pressed to beat the Cullen Diana Madeline. Could you drink better on a cold winter night??

Stage 17 It's over folks! Or is it.....? Bagnéres-de-Luchon to Peyragudes

Stage 16 & the haul up Col du Tourmalet was always going to produce a result one way or another.

Like many of our readers we were firmly clutching onto that last sliver of hope that somehow, and by some mysterious turn of fortune, Cadel Evans would be able to claw his way back as a real GC contender. Even if he managed to get all the Gods on his side, he would have needed more to evade the formidable SKY Train. What a team!

Lets hope Cadel can keep his chin up & not slide any further down the classifications. With the pressure off, hopefully we'll see some less conservative riding from him. Was very touching watching Cadel & big George ride across the line together at the end.

What a ride from Voeckler to steal the polka-dot jeursey. He is a machine. What about those facial expressions?

Tonight it's Stage 17, Bagnéres-de-Luchon to Peyragudes, the last in the Pyrenees. So what can we expect? It's short yet sharp with a couple of Cat 1's, a Cat 2, a Cat 3, a sprint and yeah there is the HC, a nasty 7.7% ave 11km climb to bust up the Peleton towards the end of the stage.

Will any one challenge the Sky boys? Nibali showed a bit of spirit last night & will be keen to challenge again to trim the 18 sec between himself & Froome in 2nd. Expect some action from the Liquigas lads.

Sagan has got the green in the bag, so all eyes will be on the breakaway for the KOM polka-dot jeursey. Rolland who earlier in the race had a crack at the jeursey himself will now help Voeckler (107pts) defend his slender lead over Kessiakoff (103 pts). Or will he?

OUR PICK: Voeckler for back to back wins & and another dozen or so new facial contortions...

DRINK MATCH: Given the chilly viewing conditions from the couch & our proximity to Spain lets leap over the Pyrenees into Tempranillo country & sip on any of the fantastic Thelmo Rodriguez reds from the north. His M2 de Matallana never fails.

AUSSIE MATCH: The Mayford Tempranillo out of NE Vic at Porepunkah is superb so to are some local versions in our own Pyrenees. Dog Rock the best of them.

MH Tour Blog Stage 16: The Epic Stage

OK Tourists, we're seriously into the Haute Pyrenees tonight with a couple of massive Hors Categorie climbs, including the infamous Col du Tourmalet at over 2km high! So unlike Schleckie, we recommend you stay off the diuretics and nestle in for a long one tonight with a glass of good red instead...

Profile c/o letour.fr

It could well be said that it's now or never for the GC competitors. With Wiggins well out ahead, this, and tomorrow night's stage will almost certainly see changes: either an extended margin on Froome, Nibali and Evans, or perhaps a comeback from the Italian and/or Aussie mountain-men.

We'll most likely see a few would-be climbers break out from the pack early, and within the Peloton the SKY riders will be working flat-out once again to protect Wiggo's lead from the likely assailants: Evans and Nibali. Both will fancy themselves on that massive descent into the finish, and we'll look forward to watching them with balls to the wall to close the Wiggins gap...

OUR PICK: Nibali to bring it in, hotly pursued by Evans, making up a minute or so on Wiggins....

DRINK MATCH:  Here in the French Pyrénées, it's time to get into Madiran: Usually mainly the Tannat grape (as its name suggests, plenty of tannin around a dark-berry fruit flavour), along with parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Try: Domaine du Crampilh Madiran 


AUSSIE MATCH: If we're talking dark berry fruit and fine tannins in the heart of the Pyrenees... (the ones closer to home) ...then it might be time for a bit of our Mitchell Harris Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2009...perfect for a cold winter night watching little blokes go up big mountains....


And don't forget, for a little look at our Winter Reds, including the Cab, our new Mataro / Grenache / Shiraz, and the Pyrenees Sangiovese, get into our Winter Warmer Six-Pack - $120 for this month!

Our Pyrenees Cabernet...before it met the bottle.

It's off to Pau we Go! Stage 15 Samatan to Pau

Well folks, you wanted attacks, and all we got were tacks & lots of them. Bad puns aside, what a night of high drama! Stage 14 captured some of both the highs & lows that make this a truly remarkable sporting event.

The peleton lead by the yellow Wiggle showed great sportsmanship free-wheeling down Mur de Péguere to allow Cadel Evens & a dozen or so other punctured riders back to the main group. Pierre Rolland tried a bit of the 'I no speaker de English', and enjoyed his uncontested and short lived breakaway before toeing the line & getting swallowed up by the peleton. And unfortunately for Kiserlovski the tacks took him off to hospital & out of the race!

But what about that breakaway? Over 15 minutes clear of the peloton when the tack drama unfolded, it was Luis Leon Sanchez who broke away from the breakaway to get a well deserved victory.

So what does Stage 15 have in store for us?

It's back to Pau we go, & tonight it's one for the sprinters. This will probably sort out who's got their eye on the prize in Paris, or who's thinking of London.

Sagan is well clear in the battle for the green guersey, but will he have enough gas in the tank after his brilliant effort to cross the line in 2nd place in the hils last night?

Is Gossy gone? Griepel 'The Gorilla' loves to win, but watch out for the Manx Missile! I reckon Cav will want this win to make a statement to his rivals before London.

After yesterdays shenanigans, the GC boys will take it easy, as there is plenty more action in them there hills to come!

Our Pick: The Missile - Cavendish to show them who's the boss!

Drink match: After last night we need a drink - a real drink. We're in Armagnac country tonight! If that's a bit strong for you then there are plenty of interesting Vin-de-Pays in this part of France plus other small lesser know (but no less remarkable) appelations - try a Malbec from Cahors or a Tannat from the Madiran that'll be sure to add a few extra hairs to your chest.

Local Match: Try an Aussie Brandy such as the St Agnes 7 Star XO, a Malbec from Bleasdale or Ferngrove, or any other odd aussies you have lurking in your cellar!

Into the Pyrenees... MH Tour Blog Stage 14

Tonight we head from Limoux to Foix, in the foothills of the magnificent Pyrenees. It's only 40km from one to another, but the peloton are taking a bit of a 191km detour into the Haute Pyrenees with a couple of massive Category 1 climbs in the last half of the day's ride.

The final climb is still over 40km from the finish, so I doubt we'll see the GC contenders have a real crack, instead aiming not to lose any time. We'll most likely see one of the out-of-contention climbers have a major dip at a breakaway.

OUR PICK: Whilst Schleck and Gesink have the climbing pedigree, we fancy someone like Jurgen Van den Broeck, who looked pretty strong in the Alps a few nights ago.

DRINK MATCH: In the foothills of the Pyrenees, Limoux was actually the first place in France to produce sparkling wine, and they still make some excellent bubbles, particularly Crémant de Limoux. One of the biggest producers is fairly easy to find in Oz, so try a Sieur d'Arques Aimery Crémant de Limoux 1531.

AUSSIE MATCH: Hmmm....what could we Mitchell Harris boys suggest as a great bubbles made in the foothills of the Pyrenees here in Australia???....

That's right, another plug for our new bubbles, SABRE by MITCHELL HARRIS Vintage 2008!

Drop us an email at: info@mitchellharris.com.au if we can interest you in trying it out bottle or two...