The court appearance of Emmanuel Giboulot will now be followed by that of Olivier Cousin

Emmanuel Giboulot@Renaissance tasting, Angers 2nd February 2014

Emmanuel Giboulot has now appeared before the court in Dijon where the prosecution has asked for a fine of 1000€ with 500€ suspended. If granted there will presumably be conditions attached to the suspended 500€. The judge will be giving her verdict on Monday 7th April at 13.30. 

Would the prosecution have asked for a more severe penalty if there had been such a show of support for Giboulot through the petition organised by the Institut pour la Protection de la Santé Naturelle with 481,746 signatures by 11.52 CET today? Not forgotting the thousand or so people who turned up in front of the court in support.

 Photo of the crowd on twitter posted by  Samuel Peltier ‏@SamuelPeltier today
 

The next vinous court appearance will be next week on Wednesay March 5th when Olivier Cousin will be up before the court at Angers on the 'Anjou Pur Breton' labelling charge. Cousin appeared in court on 2nd October 2013 but the trial was put back until a week on Wednesday. Will the prosecution be asking for a similar fine to that demanded in the case of Emmanuel Giboulot or will it be more substantial. I assume that similarly judgment won't actually be given that day but some weeks later.

Once again there will be a picnic in front of the Angers court house in the Place Leclerc from Noon.  

 

 Olivier Cousin with one of his horses@Angers 2nd October 201

 A couple of scenes from last October's picnic 

•••

Not 40,000 signatures but nearly 500,000!

There has been some comment about the inaccuracy of some wine blogs. However, it cannot be said that the traditional media where entirely accurate in their reporting of the petition in support of Emmanuel Giboulot. Both the Guardian and The Drinks Business got it well wrong:

The Guardian 

'More than 41,000 supporters of Giboulot have signed a petition calling for the charges against him to be dropped, and dozens are expected to attend a picnic outside the court in Dijon on Monday.'

The Drinks Business 24th February, 2014 

'His cause has elicited much support and an internet petition launched by l’Institut pour la Protection de la Santé Naturelle (IPSN), has already gained over 40,000 signatures.'

The petition here  actually attracted 481,746 signatures by around noon today (CET time)

Simon Hoggart: 26th May 1946 - 5th January 2014

Simon Hoggart and Steve Bell@the CWW Christmas Party

2nd December 2013

Very sad news that Simon Hoggart died of pancreatic cancer on Sunday. He was 67 and had been ill for three and half years. Simon was a multi-talented writer, observer and wit. Among his many accomplishments, he was the long time parliamentary sketch writer for the Guardian. See obituary here.  

Simon was the wine correspondent for the Spectator and joined the Circle of Wine Writers in 2001. He came to the 2013 CWW Christmas party at the beginning of December, although he was clearly far from well.

He will be greatly missed.