Do you bike with joy like we do here at The Wine Spies? If so, this Cliff Family red Rhône blend of Syrah and Grenache has your name on it. The affectionately shorted version of ‘bicicletta’ is bici in Italian, just like the word bike in English. Not only does the label showcase this passionate connection with a striking photo of the co-founder cycling in the Dolomites’ Passo Giau summit, but Clif Family Winery’s parent company is the celebrated Clif Bar & Company, the #1 brand of the Forbes Breakaway Brands survey! It’s hard to believe that we have been featuring tens of wonderful wines from Clif Family for over a decade, yet this is our inaugural Bici.

A deeper shade of maroon highlighted by crimson and a brilliant rim sheen of a purple. The nose offers up bold ripe cherry, plum, and raspberry liqueur, enhanced by cinnamon and nutmeg. Meaty, gamey blue fruits of Syrah mingle with the spicy, bright red fruits of Grenache in a perfectly harmonious mouthfeel. Grippy tannins, fresh acidity, and a hint of freshly roasted coffee, all linger effortlessly on the long and savory finish here. A free-range whole chicken stuffed with garlic, fresh herbs, roasted with root vegetables would be the ideal start of exploring endless pairing possibilities with this versatile red blend.

Fun fact: Clif’s other co-founder is also a passionate biker, and that the idea of Clif Bar was born in 1990 on a day-long, 175 mile ‘bici’ ride. Since then, the family has been an avid supporter of cycling, from sponsoring many championship teams, to races worldwide, from promoting wine tours on bikes, to this fabulous tribute to the world on two wheels. As the mighty Julius Caesar would shout if he had ever sipped this:

Veni (we came), Vidi (we saw), Bici!

This project is so intimate to the family that they never submitted a Bici for a review, but trust us Operatives, it’s a stunner. At an over 40% discount today, there’s not much left to ponder upon, hop on the saddle and ride away…