Merlot + Syrah = Pinot Noir ??

Several parties in the Languedoc have been formally charged with selling millions of euros of fake Pinot Noir to Ernest & Julio Gallo for its Red Bicyclette brand.

from: http://www.decanter.com/news/294567.html

Nobody would notice any difference...isn't Red Bicyclette basically generic "Red Wine"...so does it matter when sloshing down the Tuesday Night Hungry Man?

...so does it matter when sloshing down the Tuesday Night Hungry Man?

Next thing you know, it will be uncovered that there isn't really any wine from Burgundy in a Hungry Man Beef Burgundy meal.

You know I keep seeing these cheap Pinot Noirs in the shops from Languedoc and wonder why anyone is trying to grow PN there. Turns out maybe they aren't.

Could have been a lot worse. Could have been stretching Shiraz with Pinot Noir


But it staggers me that the professionals at Gallo didn't notice that the varietal Pinot Noir they were buying and selling wasn't Pinot Noir.

But it staggers me that the professionals at Gallo didn't notice that the varietal Pinot Noir they were buying and selling wasn't Pinot Noir.

Peter,

You are being too generous by assuming they did not notice.

[Jenise]

Hey Howie, off topic: I have a bottle of Lemberger to send you, ship me your snail address.

But it staggers me that the professionals at Gallo didn't notice that the varietal Pinot Noir they were buying and selling wasn't Pinot Noir.

There is nothing in the story about Gallo selling the stuff - only buying it. My guess is that Gallo did have suspicions, ran some tests, and that is what lead to the proscecution.