Wines of the Giro Stage 5

http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2012/it/tappa.shtml?t=05&lang=en

Modena to Fano 209km Flat

The Cycling Weekly race preview suggests that: "After the efforts of the previous day's team time trial there may be some sore legs in the bunch. Luckily, the riders won't have to think very much during the course of the day -  the route from Modena to Fano looks like it was drawn on a map with a ruler.

It's a straight run south-east to the coast. There's a small collection of hills near the finish, which may favour a late attack although they may well get caught in the final, flat 10 kilometres to the line."

I was most amused by this bit of the stage preview on Podium Cafe, where I lurk often: 

" I confess, I don't have a huge amount to say about Thursday's stage 5 of the Giro d'Italia. What? At loss for words? Well, not really. But tomorrow's stage is impressively flat. Flat like... well, picture something really really flat and you pretty much have this stage profile."

So, really really flat and like it was drawn by a ruler. Sounds like a day for a doomed breakaway and a bunch sprint. Indeed, when live coverage started, we had a 4 rider break with more than 5 minutes over the peloton. Indeed, with 64 km to go, the gap: was still at 5'33. And after a few sprinters dropped off on the slight hills, it was a textbook finish for the Sky train and Mark Cavendish, who had a special visit in the form of her very young daughter, Delilah. 

Stage winner: Mark Cavendish

Maglia Rosa:  Ramunas Navardauskas,

A slightly blurry Willow was rather curious about my attempts to photograph the color of today's wine.

The wine: La Stoppa Ageno Emilia IGT 2006 $39.99 from 67wine

From the producer website: La Stoppa is an ancient estate with its vines climbing along the slopes of the Val Trebbiola, not far from the River Trebbia, in the province of Piacenza.The estate covers 58 hectares, 28 of which is woodland - oak, chestnut and locust-tree and 30 of which are vineyards, all merged together and dominated by a medieval tower. More than a hundred years ago, the previous owner, lawyer Ageno, planted French vines and produced wines from meaningful names which were a little peculiar because they were Italianised: Bordò, Bordò bianco e Pinò.

In 1973, La Stoppa was purchased by the Pantaleoni family, who recently modernised and transformed the cellar. Today the estate is run by Elena Pantaleoni, who along with Julius Armani wanted major investments to be devoted to the vineyard, worked on organically and certified by ‘Suolo e Salute’.
The low yields and the fundamental quality of the grapes mean that the wines are characterised by the vineyard and not betrayed by excessive work in the cellar. Today La Stoppa produces a few labels, some relating to native grape varieties such as, Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, Bonarda, Barbera and others like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Semillon.

Melissa at 67Wine says: An orange wine of mostly Malvasia. Ageno is a gorgeous amber in the glass showing candied orange and a heady whiff of gardenia. Decanting is recommended. Also, serve around cellar temp; don't over chill. For food, I'd have with cured meats, wild boar. The hazy quality is intended, resulting from a fermentation process of 30+ days and extended aging on lees for 12 months in large neutral barrel before bottling.

I say: Well now that is a pretty nose. Very much the candied orange mentioned above. Amazing color as well, a sort of hazy orange.  I'm often more of a fan of orange wines in theory rather than in my mouth, but this is an exception. On the palate there is tannin but also flowers and white tea. Pairs beautifully with my home made meatballs, this time without tomato sauce. My favorite wine of the Giro so far.