Nestled along the meandering course of the Rhône River in south-eastern France, the Vallée du Rhône, or Rhône Valley, stands as a bastion of viticultural excellence. Renowned for its diverse terroirs, this historic wine region produces a rich tapestry of wines that captivate the senses with their depth, complexity, and distinctive character. From the robust reds of the northern Rhône to the sun-kissed, fruity whites of the south, the wines of Vallée du Rhône are a testament to the region’s centuries-old winemaking tradition. In the northern reaches of the Rhône Valley, appellations like Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage crafted red wines of exceptional finesse and longevity. The 1970s saw vintages that, under the influence of the cool continental climate, delivered wines with structured tannins, aromatic complexity, and the potential for graceful aging. Meanwhile, the southern Rhône, home to illustrious names such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, produced robust red blends and luscious whites that reflected the warmth of the Mediterranean sun. Even though we don’t know the exact provenance of the wine casks that have been used here, let’s review this Glen Moray 1976 Rare Vintage Vallée du Rhône Finish.
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Glen Moray Mastery 120th Anniversary (2017)
We’re back in Scotland, and for this two hundredth whisky I review here, I wanted to get something special. But this time, no closed distillery (soon, I have several ready for review in my tasting notes book), nor a 40-year-old whisky. I’m going to Elgin, to Glen Moray, one of my favourites distilleries. So let’s consider that number, and then we’ll see how the Glen Moray Mastery 120th Anniversary does.
Read moreGlen Moray 27-year-old Chorlton Whisky
Right. Many people know me to be a massive Glen Moray fan. But strangely, though, more than two years in this blog, I still haven’t reviewed any on those pages. My love for this distillery is to be honest quite recent. It wasn’t really on my radar before Spirit of Speyside 2019, when with my friends we booked three events over a week there, the first one being a tour of the distillery with their brand ambassador, Iain Allan, and a handful bottle at the end of the tour, after a tasting. The second event was for may the 4th, a Star Wars-themed event, but Iain again in his element (a Stormtrooper costume), where we had a face-off between official and SMWS Glen Morays. The third event was a bit different, as it was the Closing Ceilid’h of the Spirit of Speyside Festival and quite a great party. There, I discovered great and affordable whiskies, with three handfill casks always available with a great selection and fantastic price range, and people absolutely lovely. I made friends, people I still talk to quite often, two years later. They even talk to me back and not just ignore me! I’ve been wanting to write some articles about Glen Moray bottling for a long time but never took the time to do so. It’ll come. The Cask Projects (or curiosities), with their infamous Cider cask finish. The Warehouse 1 releases. Lots of bottle-your-own. Old distillery exclusives… But that will have to wait. Tonight, I’m reviewing a Glen Moray 27yo bottled by Chorlton Whisky.
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