Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Thursday 31 October 2013

Dateline 31.10.13: Epeigné-les-Bois invaded and terrorised by assorted witches, ghouls and sorcerers

A terrifying trio of witches!

Between 16.00 and 19.00 hours this evening the normally quiet and peaceful village of Epeigné-les-Bois was invaded by several gangs of assorted witches, ghouls and sorcerers – all demanding sweets (bonbons)! We repeatedly tried, to no avail, to seek protection from the authorities – doubtless the witches must have disabled telephone communications using a sophisticated spell! 

Fortunately the gangs have now melted away under the cover of darkness leaving the peaceful citizens to return to normalcy as best they can.

 It's bonbons or else!!


 White terror!

 Hand over your bonbons or ....!!

 Another marauding group 

 A ghoulish group sweeps on through the village
 A fearsome trio!

A ringleader!!

Loire – some late 2013 diary dates





2nd edition of la Levée de la Loire à Paris on Monday 4th November.  

This event is restricted to trade professionals. Details here. Sadly I can't make it as there are lots of interesting growers who will be there.
 
'L’association interprofessionnelle des vins bio de Loire (AIVB-VL) vous invite à la deuxième édition de la Levée de la Loire à Paris, le lundi 4 novembre 2013 de 10h00 à 19h00. Cette journée de dégustation réservée aux professionnels aura lieu, comme l’année dernière, au salon des Miroirs (13 passage Joufroy 75009 Paris - www.salondesmiroirs.com).

La Levée de la Loire déploie son territoire du Muscadet aux Côtes d’Auvergne sur 15 départements différents. Ses vignerons sont aussi bien des expérimentés et déjà reconnus que des jeunes installés démarrant leur activité. Les tailles de domaine vont de la micro exploitation à plusieurs dizaines d’hectares. Deux points réunissent pourtant les exposants de cette deuxième édition parisienne : la Loire d’une part et la défense des vins bio d’autre part (en fin de conversion, en viticulture biologique, ou d.j. sous le label vin bio européen).

Soixante-dix domaines et metteurs en marché vous accueilleront Lundi 4 novembre au Salon de Miroirs, véritable écrin de verre emplie de lumière et libre en fantaisie, à quelques pas du musée Grévin. Un lieu à la fois facile d’accés pour le public parisien mais aussi pour tous les professionnels venant de nos voisins européens, avec la proximité de la gare du nord. Trois cent cavistes, restaurateurs, importateurs, négociants, oenophiles, relais d’opinion et journalistes avait répondu présents à l’invitation en 2012 pour la
première édition.

A noter dès à présent : la Levée de la Loire vous donne déjà rendez-vous . Angers aux Greniers St Jean le lundi 3 février 2014, et s’exportera . Bruxelles le lundi 31 mars 2014.'

LES EXPOSANTS : 70 ACTEURS (VIGNERONS ET NEGOCIANTS) DES VINS BIO DU VAL DE LOIRE – they may well have been some late additions.


Cher
FOUASSIER Paul
GILBERT Philippe 
NIVET/JANSEN Philippe et Vincent/Julien

Indre et Loire
AMIRAULT Xavier, Thierry et Agnès 
BOISARD Joël, Fabien et Cyril
BRETON Catherine et Pierre 
COURANT Xavier 
DAVID Sébastien 
DELECHENEAU Coralie et Damien 
DESCHAMPS Sandrine 
GALBRUN Bertrand 
GAUTHIER Pierre et Rodolphe
GUION Stéphane 
HERLIN Laurent 
JOURDAN Francis
JOUSSET Lise et Bertrand 
MORDELET/KLOECKLE Valèrye/Jean-Daniel 
LAMBERT Pascal et Béatrice 
MUREAU Stéphane
PELLETIER Jean-Christophe 
PIBALEAU Pascal 
PLOUZEAU François 
PLOUZEAU Marc 
ROUSSE Wilfrid
SYLVOS Louis-Jean
VAN DEN BERGHE Kathleen 
VINI BE GOOD (Fabrice Gendrot)

Loir et Cher
BELLANGER Olivier 
COLIN Patrice 
COURTAULT/TARDIEUX Alain/Simon 
GENDRIER Jocelyne et Michel 
GIRAULT Vincent
ROUSSELY Vincent 
ROY/BOUTIN Anne-C.cile/Yohann 
SAUVETE Jérôme 
SEMERIA Laura 
SEVIN Cyrille  T
ESSIER Philippe

Loire-Atlantique
BEDOUET Michel 
BONNET Rémi et Jean-Jacques
CARROGET/GAUTIER Jacques/Agnès 
GUEDON Jean-Pierre
NIGER VAN HERCK/BOSSARD Frédéric/Guy 
OLLIVIER/BRANGER Marc/Rémi 
ORIEUX Stéphane 
PERRAUD Stéphane et Vincent

Maine et Loire
BAUDOUIN Patrick 
BERTIN/DELATTE Nicolas/Genevi.ve
CHARRIER Laurent 
CHAUVIN/CESBRON Paul-Eric/Philippe
DAVID/LECOMTE François/Olivier 
DAVIAU Christophe 
DUBOIS Bruno 
CARSIN/DU BOUEXIC Thomas/ Grégoire 
ELLIAU Philippe
GOURDON Philippe et Françoise
LAROCHE Tessa 
LAUREAU Damien 
MAHE Loïc 
MENARD Joël, Christine et Jérémy
MILLON Jean- Noёl 
PIRE Guillaume 
REGNIER Jean-François
REYNOUARD Guillaume 
TERQUEM Loïc 
VAILLANT Jean-François, Laurence et Dominique 
VINCENT Marc

Nièvre
COSTE Mathieu 
PABIOT Jonathan et Didier

Vendée
CHABIRAND Christian


Anges Vins @ Saint Aubin: 23-24-25 Novembre 


Wednesday 30 October 2013

#DWCC13: some photos from the Sunday trip to 3 wineries

 The colours of autumn

Last Sunday CRM and I were in the DWCC13 group that visited three Rioja bodegas – LAN, BAIGORRI and Marqués de Riscal. Our day also included a brief visit to the old town of Laguardia

View from LAN towards the mountains


@LAN (above and below)


 
Tourists@the Cathedral!

Street in Laguardia

Lost a pair of shoes?

Two musicians in Laguardia

View over autumnal vines from Laguardia

Entrance to BAIGORRI

End of sorting table@BAIGORRI

Gravity winery@BAIGORRI


Ewan Murray (The Wine Society UK)



Marqués de Riscal hotel (above and below)





Tuesday 29 October 2013

Castel takes trademark battle with Pancho Campo's friend to China's Supreme Court




Daniel Li (Caves Maître), Robert Parker and Pancho Campo 

 Daniel Li – "just sign here please, Mr Parker..."

Decanter.com reports that: 
'French wine merchant Castel is pursuing its trademark dispute in China at the country's Supreme Court and has said it will 'take any measures' to win.' 

The trademark battle is with Panati Wine run by Daniel Li, under the name Caves Maître it was a major sponsor of Wine Future Hong Kong. Li sat next to Robert Parker on the stage during the Magic 20 tasting.

Presumably the eventual outcome of the case could have important implications for foreign companies trading in China. 




Castel has had its application for a Supreme Court hearing accepted, a spokesperson for the group told decanter.com.

Its move marks a fresh escalation in the French firm’s long-running battle with Shanghai-based distributor Panati Wine over the Ka-Si-Te trademark name in China.

Read more at http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/584490/castel-takes-trademark-battle-to-china-s-supreme-court#7mGLZFJ2XXEMBrKK.99
Castel has had its application for a Supreme Court hearing accepted, a spokesperson for the group told decanter.com.

Its move marks a fresh escalation in the French firm’s long-running battle with Shanghai-based distributor Panati Wine over the Ka-Si-Te trademark name in China.

Read more at http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/584490/castel-takes-trademark-battle-to-china-s-supreme-court#7mGLZFJ2XXEMBrKK.99

Castel takes trademark battle to China's Supreme Court

  • Monday 28 October 2013
French wine merchant Castel is pursuing its trademark dispute in China at the country's Supreme Court and has said it will 'take any measures' to win.
Castel Vats
Wine straight from the vat at Groupe-Castel

Castel
has had its application for a Supreme Court hearing accepted, a spokesperson for the group told decanter.com.

Its move marks a fresh escalation in the French firm’s long-running battle with Shanghai-based distributor Panati Wine over the Ka-Si-Te trademark name in China.

Read more at http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/584490/castel-takes-trademark-battle-to-china-s-supreme-court#7mGLZFJ2XXEMBrKK.99

ChâteauOnline, a subsidiary of Héraclés (1855) in administration


 Shares in Héraclés have now fallen to 0.04€ 
(http://www.boursorama.com)

On 22nd October 2013 ChâteauOnline, a subsidiary of Héraclés (1855) which was bought by the group in March 2011, also went into administration. Like 1855, ChâteauOnline had recently changed its name to Arès, the Greek god of war. Clearly, the change to a classic heroic name, wasn’t sufficient to provide protection from its creditors and the various legal actions against it.

In the first instance the period of administration is for six months. For Héraclés this will run until 7th April 2014, while Ares will be until 22nd April 2014. Gérard Philippot has been appointed administrator and Maître Stéphane GORRIAS of BTSG (Paris) as legal representative of both companies.

The internet sites of the various companies continue to be live and it remains to seen whether the other subsidiary companies  – Cave Privée and Caves de la Transat – will also go into administration.

Shares in 1855 (recently renamed Héraclés) continue to be traded on the Paris Bourse but the price has dropped from 0.09€ (8.10.13) a share to 0.04€ (29.10.13). The company is now valued at just 2.52 million euros. In early July 2012 the company's share capital was worth 20.15€ million. Even six months ago a share was trading at 0.13€. Over this period the share value has dropped by 66.67%.

   The Chateauonline site is still up but 
why take the risk of buying from a collapsing group? 




Clacton's helter skelter victim of Monday's storm

 The helter-skelter on Clacton Pier (May 2013)

The helter-skelter on Clacton's Pier was blown over yesterday during the storm that hit the southern part of the UK and mainland northern Europe. The pier owners are reported to be hopeful that the attraction can be repaired as none of it fell into the sea. 



Monday 28 October 2013

#DWCC #DWCC13 – great last evening@El Rincón del Vino, Logroño


Our 37€ group menu

A group of us had a great #DWCC13 last evening in El Rincón del Vino in the centre of Logroño. This wonderful restaurant – Robert McIntosh's favourite in Logroño – has an amazing list of old Riojas at equally astoundingly good prices to go with their simple but tasty cuisine. As at the BYOB we made our own selection, bought the venerable bottles and then shared the contents.    

The last supper





Some of the fallen – 
all in various stages of drinkability:

 Urbina Reserva 1996

Marqués de Murrieta Ygay 1982 (40€)


 Muga Gran Reserva 1982

 Contino Reserva 1994
Ontañon Reserva 1995

 Imperial Gran Reserva 1994


Martinez Lacuesta Reserva 1987 

 Bodega Corral, Don Jacobo Reserva 1995

 Monte Real 2001 Reserva (22€)

La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva 1995

Artadi 2004 Pagos Viejos

Around the restaurant that was opened specially on Sunday for us: