Whisky landscape

The whisky famous River Spey at Newtonmore. This is well upstream from the clutch of world famous Speyside distilleries. The sole distillery upstream of here is Dalwhinnie, Scotland’s highest distillery but it is not on the Spey rather it is on the River Trium, a tributary of the Spey that joins the mother river just to the south of Newtonmore.

Dalwhinnie Distillery (above and below) is one of Diageo’s classic malts. This gentle spirit belies the wild landscape that surrounds the distillery.

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Looking down on Dalwhinnie from above Loch Ericht (see photo below)
The white building in the distance is the distillery

The Cairngorms viewed from Aviemore

Further downstream between Aviemore and Granton-on-Spey with the Cairngorm mountains in the background. The majority of the distilleries are closer to the sea…… dram deferred!

2017 César de Vendôme Gris, Coteaux Vendômois

2017 César de Vendôme Gris, Coteaux Vendômois 

This is a pleasant, well-made Rosé from the Cave Coopérative du Vendômois. Made from 100% Pineau d'Aunis, which is somewhat of a speciality of the Valley of Le Loir. I found this 2017 rosé a little bland as it was missing the characteristic peppery character of Pineau d'Aunis, which makes is what makes wines from this variety stand out.    

The Second Battle of Wounded Knee (11 weeks on) + Loch Gynack

 Left leg and knee: 22nd March 2018

 Knee: 5th February 2018

It is now 11 weeks since I had the operation on my knee to reattach my quads to my left knee cap, having ruptured them from my knee slipping on black ice on 2nd January. 

As the photos show the operation scar is healing up nicely – a big difference today (22nd March) from how my knee was on 5th February.   

  Left leg and knee: 22nd March 2018 

I celebrated the approach of 11 weeks since the operation by taking the old drovers track between Newtonmore and Kingussie. This track heads up towards the mountains before turning right to pass along the north side of Loch Gynack. This was most strenuous walk I have attempted since the operation. I was fortunate that it was a beaut of a day – bright sunshine and blue skies as the photos below show.  

Path heading up to Loch Gynack.

 Looking down towards Loch Gynack

 Loch Gynack 

(above and below)

 

 

Attractive 2017 Cabochard Rosé, Côte Roannaise, Sérol

Another good 2017 – this time the 2017 Cabochard, Côte Roannaise Rosé from Domaine Sérol. 100% Gamay – vibrant pink colour, lively, refreshing but not acidic rosé. Good to drink even during the winter but should shine even more brightly in the summer. Stéphane and Carine Sérol's wines are consistently good. 

Although the Côte Roannaise is only a small appellation there are a group of good producers here who are well worth discovering – both for their Côte Roannaise appellation wines (red and rosé) but also for their IGP whites from a range of grape varieties including Rousanne and Viognier.  

More wedding fotos – by special request

 Zoe

 Anne & Chris

 

 Anne & Carole

 Carole, Zoe and Anne

 

 Chris

 Lynne

Tom, Zoe and Celia

 

 Shona & Liam

The cover of my new album....

A few more wedding photos featuring the good choice of wine

Shona – a beautiful bride and smart wine buyer

The wines served at Shona and Liam's wedding reception were well chosen by Shona. Following the marital ceremony Bouvet's well-made Saumur Brut. This mainly Chenin Blanc with some Chardonnay. It worked very well – at times like this there is no sense in going beyond a well-made, agreeable glass of fizz.

Few, if any, wedding guests are paying much attention to the wine in their glass as long as it is enjoyable since they are busy chatting, taking photos etc.    

Guests enjoying their Bouvet:

Cheerful hats 

(above and below)

 

Relaxed elegance ...... or

... more formal

 

Serving more Bouvet ready for the toasts

Wines with the meal:

For the meal Shona opted for the 2016 Devil's Creek, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough and, for the red – the 2016 Porta 6 from the Lisbon area – a blend of 50% Tinto Roriz, 40% Castelãu and 10% Touriga Nacional. I ought to have been able to provide a tasting note for the Sauvignon Blanc but I forgot to try it – what did I say about wine and weddings! 

Instead like many of the rest of the guests I went for the attractively softly black fruited but nicely concentrated Porta 6 – a good example of how good Portuguese red wines can be without concentrating on international varieties. 

      

Shona and Liam's wedding – a few photos

 Here comes the bride: 

Shona with her father Jim 

(above and below)

On Saturday CRM and I were at Shona and Liam's wedding at Guardswell Farm, which is between Perth and Dundee. The wedding was a warm and happy occasion in marked contrast to the weather which was wild with frequent snow showers and bitterly cold.

 

 Start of the ceremony

 

 Ring time 

 Shona Mackie-Macintyre and 

Liam Macintyre-Mackie embrace

(above and below)

 

 Comin' up for air....

Signing the register

 After the signing 

 

 The happy couple

 

The wedding meal – ready for the speeches 

More photos to follow in a separate post