On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:45:00 -0400, Mark Lipton
wrote:

Rigal - so I was told, rather frostily, by the young sales lady who
was the only person available.

Thanks for that information, Ian. It makes a lot of sense. I don't
know why the sales lady should have been at all put out by your inquiry.
How else is one to know that a particular name has been sold?

I agree. But who knows what led up to and followed the purchase Rigal
J&F Freres still sell these wines, but she really was at pains to
explain that there was no longer a connection. The expression that
comes to mind is french "uin vrai frisson". A sort of stiffening of
the back, followed by "Oh no, this isn't the same organisation at
all." Most odd really. I suspect there's "une histoire".
--
All the best
Fatty from Forges