Velo Vino, Episode 2: Éric Caritoux (Côtes de Ventoux 1983) – The winemaker of Flassans

An auction lot of six dusty cycling-themed bottles of wine from the 80s provides the inspiration behind Velo Vino, a new podcast mini-series that explores some tales from the pro peloton's history through rosé-tinted spectacles.

Cycling journalists Felix Lowe and Graham Willgoss invite you to take a seat at the table with professional wine buff Chris Maybin as they uncork these aged bottles and sift through the stories and sentiments behind the sediment.

In our second episode, our intrepid trio sample a 42-year-old wine that even its producer fears will “taste like vinegar” now. That producer is none other than the last French winner of the Vuelta a España, Éric Caritoux, whose unlikely triumph in 1984 is discussed alongside a Côtes de Ventoux made from the grapes grown on his farm in Provence the previous summer.

Caritoux’s against-all-odds overall victory over Spanish favourite Alberto Fernández remains the slenderest winning margin in Grand Tour history at just six seconds – but has the Frenchman’s wine stood the test of time?

As a hedge, special guest Pascal Gabriel provides Velo Vino with a recent bottle of Cuvée Caritoux while discussing the concept behind his latest album, 1:46.43 – The Ventoux Trilogy, created as his alter ego Stubbleman using the biometric data from an ascent of the legendary climb.  

All four episodes of Velo Vino are brought to you in association with Rouleur magazine and Nyetimber, the English sparkling wine producer and proud backer of British Cycling. Slip into the sipstream of Felix, Graham and Chris as they raise a glass to some Grand Tour tannins of yesteryear.

Produced by Matthew Vines.

Closing song – An Everlasting Universe of Things – by Stubbleman and taken with permission from the album 1:46.43 – The Ventoux Trilogy.

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