"Frolic through the vineyards and fine restaurants of Provence" in this delectable mystery set in French wine country, where the time is ripe for murder ( Publishers Weekly). The vineyards of the Willesford Wine Group occupy a particularly choice section of French wine country. From the grapes of Provence, the owners of this impeccably managed syndicate have squeezed international fame and fortune. Next to their spectacular estate lies the petite Peregrine Winery, whose shadowy owners suddenly make repeated requests to buy Willesford's property—raising their offer each time.   Unable to discern Peregrine's motive for these persistent attempts, the Willesford group sends for London's gourmet detective, a sleuth with impeccable reasoning and an even finer palate. When he arrives in Provence, he doesn't even have time to sample the pâté before he finds a dead man leaning against a cart, dripping blood into the fine French terroir. For the winemakers of Provence, this will be an excellent year for murder.