Help: Some Creative wine Suggestions for My Guy's cycling Weekend (menu included)

So after skipping last year due to everyone having crazy schedules, we are back on schedule for our 7th annual guy’s cycling weekend in the Georgia mountains starting May 3. This is a fantastic group of really cool, eclectic guys (7-8 guys) that also happen to be sickly talented athletes (me excluded - I’m last up every climb). We ride obscene miles and climbs. Eat and drink like Romans of yore. And just thoroughly enjoy sitting on the mountain house deck for hours on end laughing and having a great time.

Two of my buddies typically plan the menu and I pair the wines for the group. I try to keep the average bottle price to $40 (we split all costs for food and booze, accommodations are mine), then bring some ringers from my own collection.

So this year we have a Creole and an Asian night, and I could use some creative recommendations. These guys tend to be slightly more Cali-centric but typically appreciate the French syrahs, CDPs, Chinons and Bordeaux that I have brought over the years. Some of these dishes seems to scream for some whites. I need a mix of white and red.

So here is the core menu - I need help on the first and third night:

First dinner:

Appetizer: Grilled jumbo shrimp in a spice rub and grilled wild boar sausage
Main dish: Jambalaya with Andouille sausage accompanied by French bread and salad and grilled vege
Dessert: Bread pudding.

Second dinner:

Appetizer: Charcuterie tray
Dinner: Mixed grill of Herbed Flank Steak, Elk and Venison (loin and back strip) with Grilled tomatoes stuffed with goat cheese over a Field green Salad.
Dessert: Poached Pears in a Cognac sauce with Nutella

Third dinner:

Appetizer: Potsticker asian dumplings
Dinner: Wild Duck breast Asian style with Bok choy.
Dessert: Flambe’ apricots and cherries

The wild game is actually shot by three of the guys in the group - all hunters. Our chef, Ivan, is quite talented. His meals - and they include breakfast and lunch - are all far better than they read. He is King.

Thanks all.

Robert, I do a similar annual trip with friends. I usually bring a mag of Zin - Ridge Lytton or Scherrer OMV. For white, how about a CA white Rhone from Jemrose or Copain.

If you can find any, Jamet Cote du Rhone. The 2009 my tasting group did was WAY better than a simply CdR. As another though along those lines, Fonsalette CdR from Rayas.

And… come on dude… Lagier Meredith Syrah!

Good calls, guys. I was thinking Zins for the Creole. I have lots of Ridge from various vintages. Then syrah for sure for the second night with grilled meats. Was thinking a mix of Cali and French syrah. Was gonna run the gamut in syrah styles, including old Copain, Lagier Meredith, Bedrock, Gonon and Chave. Still have no clue for the asian styled duck dinner.

I thought you were married to a woman? Who is your guy and why do you need to plan the menu for his cycling weekend?

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I’m just curious.

[stirthepothal.gif]

Syrah or zin would work for the duck. Alternatives would be something to cut the fat and complement the asian flavors. Either Cab F from the Loire, something from the jura or something like a nero d’avola or Frappato from Sicily. Or something like a Patrimonio from Corsica. Or, of course, whites.

Well, you know Ken, she did play collegiate tennis, can crush a men’s driver 200 down the middle and has a heck of a right hook (Nordic stock). Perhaps I’m better off with the dudes.

[wow.gif]

Hats off to you Robert. There’s a group of 50-ish year olds who ride fairly hard in the Catskills. Just about every year we do a day ride together and I’m delighted to stay anywhere within eyesight. Pretty much a one mile vertical minimum for 50 - 70 miles. Some of the grades are ridiculous. I’ll never forget a grizzled old Mountain goat guy (atleast 65) on an old litespeed who blew me away, along with several other riders, on the way up Glade Hill: 1000+ feet and all at 13%+ grade.

A young man (30-ish) who works for me has risen to Cat 3 race level. He recently did a March training ride up Mount Mitchell. Not sure if that’s anywhere near your route? Seems like common sense lapses in the face of testosterone induced cycling challenges. Enjoy.

RT

Thanks, Richard, it’s all fun stuff!

I think cyclists defy age. All of us guys are in our mid-to-late 40s. I do not think any of us have lost that much speed or ability these last ten+ years of riding together (well, I’m off my fitness right now, but that’s more about bike mileage than age). Where we have lost is recovery. The next day hurts far more than before! An interesting side note, the average race speeds in our masters category racing, when it was 35+ and 45+ in age groups, were quite close, and even the local P12 races were not that much faster. When I floated a couple years between all these classes, sneaking into some P12 races as well, what I noticed were the greater intensity bursts in the younger cats, but overall speed was close. Lots of guys from down here do the Mount Mitchell Challenge, Six Gap and the 3-State, 3 Gap race. Some Florida boys, me excluded, can climb!

It’s surprising how flat-landers can do quite well on climbs. A friend rides Central Park 3x each week at some ungodly early hour. Pretty close to dark the whole ride. They loop 6 times for 30+ miles at a brisk pace, throwing in some hard intervals. The fact that he’s 6’ and < 150lbs helps when he floats up the big climbs! It takes 1000+ regular miles before I even look half seriously uphill.

We’re very near the Lehigh County Velodrome so there’re a lot of exceptional riders around. I never formally raced, but sometimes rub shoulders with the big boys on competitive fun rides. The old Pros have a surprising amount of youthful magic, not to talk down their flawless technique and riding smarts. It’s those prolonged 35+mph bursts that quickly reveal my tourist status!

RT

No wonder u invited me on this trip Robert…so u r no longer last on the climbs!! Nice try on maybe next year! Seriously, have a good time, thanks for the invite, let’s pop a cork on your return…

Here are some things you might not have thought of:

Dinner 1 Aimery Cremant de Limoux https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=291305
Dinner 2 Sleight of Hand Levitation Syrah 2009 Sleight of Hand Syrah Levitation, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley - CellarTracker
Dinner 3 Trimbach Gewurtz Tardive 2000 Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives, France, Alsace - CellarTracker

My favorite pairing for duck is Pinot Noir and with the Asian preparation I would look for one with cherry or plum notes and spices. I can’t specify offhand one within the price range of
$40 a bottle–was thinking more along the lines of a Williams Selyem P.N. or a Vosne-Romanee.

Thanks, Paul. Just check, and my local guy has the 2000 Trimbach.

Jane, had not thought of Pinot - not my usual drink - but I get what you are saying. Marc, you’ve been scouring our local stores recently for good Burgs. Anything interesting in the $40 and under category. You know the guys that are coming on this trip, so give it some thought. And we only invited you because you always have blocks of cheese stuffed in your baggy pants and hoody.