2015 Clos de l'Echo, Chinon, Couly-Dutheil

2015 Clos de l'Echo, Chinon, Couly-Dutheil 

Just across from and to the west of the medieval fortress of the Château de Chinon, the Clos de l'Echo is one of the most famous and long-established single vineyards in the Loire. This is 100% Cabernet Franc. Echo was once owned by François Rabelais' family. In 1952 it was bought by René and Madelaine Couly.

The 2015 Clos de l'Echo has impressively ripe concentrated black fruits. Almost pure fruit, its concentration currently hides the wine's structure. This is an example of how forward even the top 2015 Loire reds are.     

Newtonmore sees in 2015!

Fireworks@midnight 

Those who can come to Newtonmore to see the New Year arrive, those who can have to content themselves with Sydney, London, Edinburgh or Rio....  

 Quiet streets of Newtonmore before the procession

 The young piper leading the southern 

procession from the Glen Hotel

 Procession gathering@The Glen Hotel

(above and below)

 The sprinting piper....!

(above and below)

 Approach of the procession down Main Street 

from the north starting@Balavil Hotel

(above and below)

 Two pipers meet...

Pipers heading towards The Golf Course 

 On the golf course: singer entertaining 

crowd in lead up to midnight

Laurie Skuodas, owner of Strathspey Mountain Hostel, 

Newtonmore and ??

 Scenes@the golf course – awaiting the midnight hour

(above and below)

Fireworks after midnight 

Steamin' towards 2015...

 Strathspey Railway: Aviemore to Broomhill – 

EV Cooper Engineer engine uncoupled for return to Aviemore

just beyond Broomhill station

 Carriages waiting for the engine to return

 Moment of uncoupling

(above and below)

 Driver's mate starting trek back to far end of the train

 – figure by middle large wheel

 Getting up steam again