InterWined recently received one single, large sausage from a friend who works at the firm Societe General. Why InterWined gets non-wine related gifts from a global investment bank is another post entirely. But at any rate, this sausage, Cochonou, is the official sausage for this year’s Tour de France.

Meaty, super fatty, but light on the pepper and extremely fragrant and chewy, Cochonou (8.0 points) isn’t the finest sausage InterWined has ever had, but pan fried and placed in flat bread with some hard Cheddar and French’s mustard and the pork’s a winner. (8.5 points)

Pairing it wasn’t difficult, either. The obvious choice for a French sausage is French wine. The lack of pepper means the wine need not be robust, as say a Bordeaux or Rhone. The meatiness means it needs body, and the aroma should be elegant and understated.

In this case, a 2005 Burgundy did the trick. The Domaine (Burgundy uses ‘Domaine,’ Bordeaux ‘Chateau’) is not important as it was widely available. InterWined.com stands firmly by its assertion that 2005 is the year for red Burgundy (100 percent Pinot Noir), and demands you stuff your face with sausage while drinking some: 8.8.

Isn’t that what those hard-pumping cyclists are racing for, anyway?

Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to InterWined.com and get the lastest posts delivered fresh to your feeder.