News from Epeigné's gentleman rocker

Received from Mark Robertson: 7 September 2009

Weather: Sunny, hot & dry. 29 forecast for today, 31 tomorrow. Rest of the week in the high 20's with first rain forecast for Tuesday 15th.

Clos Chossay: ripening Sauvignon Blanc: 7.9.09

Grapes: Some pictures attached of Sauvignon, Cot and Cabernet. Took sample of 100 Sauvignon grapes (randomly selected) this morning. Potential alcohol 11.25%. Another 7 - 10 days of this weather and it'll be time to pick as we want to avoid reaching 13 %.

2009 Côt: 7.9.09

Veraison in Cot is almost complete - Cabernet about 80% complete. Harvest times will depend on intervening weather & rainfall. I think first week of October for Côt and 2nd/3rd week for Cabernet.

2009 Cabernet: 7.9.09

Bruno Curassier (Domaine de la Grange, Bléré): new addition to the range - Patrimoine Blanc. A barrel fermented and aged Chenin Blanc sec. We had the 2008 on Sunday. Crisp, refreshing wine with a good integration of oak - delicious !
(I tasted this in barrel in late December 2008 – it was looking promising then.)

Pot au feu: trying to attract the waiter's attention?

Pot au Feu@Epeigné-les-Bois Sunday 6th September

A great success. Just under 270 diners (2008 edition – 200). Dancing to Martyne Latour on the accordeon until gone 3am. Wines by Garanne (Kir with cerises), Legrand (Gamay) & Cave Franceuil (Cabernet 2008 and Méthode Traditionelle demi-sec). Meat supplied by M et Mme Philippe Goulet, Saint-Georges-sur-Cher: 02.54.32.30.35.

Still going at 3am ...

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Le Lézard Vert, Epeigné-les-Bois
First soiree couscous this Saturday 13th September. Menu couscous or brochettes. Reservations on 02.47.23.97.94.

Nacer, Alric and Stéphanie: the new owners of Le Lézard Vert

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Email Scam
The following received by a local vigneron. This is already on a scammers list in the UK :

'Hello, I am DR. Alan Goody from A. N. Wallis & Co Ltd ,U.K. I want to book Dinner for 25 guests from my Department arriving from London to your country. 25 guests will all come for Dinner November 26th, 27th 28th 29th and 30th 2009 by 8.00pm each day. Get back to me with your Menu if there is availability so that I can get our sponsors to make a check or Credit card deposit payment for our Dinner. Kindly indicate your acceptable mode of pre-payment in your reply? 1)Certified Secured Check OR 2)Credit card 1)N.B--Do you offer accommodation? I need 2 DBL or 4 single rooms for four of my guests? 2)Can you make a wine tasting arrangements for us? We intend to come for wine tasting on the following dates November 26th,27th and 28th 2009 by 12 pm everyday. Reply to (m.alangooody@yahoo.co.uk) Dr.Alan Goody, Address : Greasley Street Bulwell Nottingham NG6 8NJ England '

'Hello,
Thanks for your response.25 Guests will be coming for wine tasting with snacks on the following dates November 26th, 27th and 28th 2009 by 12 midday everyday. We will make a deposit prepayment of 1000eur because we have not yet concluded with our budget. The balance payment will be made on our last day.A check payment will be sent to you from our Sponsor in the amount of Euros 10.000,00 that will cover the cost of our Dinner and other necessary arrangements for us.

However, we also made an arrangement with a pre paid Transport Consultant who will take care of our flight arrangements to other destinations and transportation requirements during our entire stay, we have decided that only one person will have to handle the check. So once you are in receipt of the check you are required to cash the check payment then you deduct (Euros 1.000) which is the deposit payment for our wine tasting and send the balance of Euros 9.000,00 to the Transport Consultant for them to arrange our flight ticket to your property and other logistics arrangment. I will send you the agent details once everything is concluded.
Kindly confirm this and provide me with your:
(1) YOUR FULL NAME as it will be on the check payment
(2) ADDRESS for cheque delivery
(3) PHONE NUMBERS for office records
Looking forward to a warm Hospitality!
Best Regards,
Alan Goody'


I have come across this scam email several times before. Classic advance fee fraud. If a cheque is ever sent it will bounce and the victim may have sent a genuine cheque to the 'transport consultant'. Put straight into junk folder.