Bendigo and a toast

This rather splendid bottle of Pinot Noir comes from Central Otago, in South Island, New Zealand. The vineyard is called Bendigo, which conjured up a memory of a hot February afternoon in the deserted goldworkings of Bendigo, on the shores of Lake Dunstan in Central Otago. It's a desert place, with thorny shrubs and the odd poignant wild rose bush planted beside his long-vanished shack by a homesick miner.

Tonight we drank this bottle and toasted the memory of our dear friend Edgar, who moved to that arid area from damp Dunoon to be near his family. He died the day after we flew home after spending a month with him. Cheers, Edgar - this is for you.