Burgundy wine extortion scandal extravaganza!

I'm sure many of you have heard the news already, but a French ex-convict has been arrested for attempting to blackmail two prestigious Burgundy wine estates, the illustrious Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé. I hadn't heard about it until today, and the news prompted me to post my own response: http://www.melpriestley.com/archives/433

Personally, I'm pretty surprised that nothing like this has happened yet (maybe it has). With the prices that wine can fetch, especially from top estates like this one, it follows that someone would try to take advantage of that (and not just through the sale of phony bottles).

Though it's interesting to speculate on the disaster it would have been if the vines had actually been poisoned, I maintain that this would have only robbed us off a few years of wines. The earth is what makes Burgundy taste so unlike anything else, and unless he did some serious damage to that, I don't think that even something as extreme as poisoning grapevines would have any truly lasting effects on the vineyards.

Now, the effect it would have on the wine industry is a different matter.

[Jenise]

Melissa, I hadn't read about that. Interesting prospect that owners of prestigious vineyards may have to run what would amount to, in my country, an FBI check of all prospective vineyard workers. Also, I wonder if something like this hasn't happened before--I could see it happening, but kept quiet, for fear of sparking copycat crimes of a similar nature.

Though it's interesting to speculate on the disaster it would have been if the vines had actually been poisoned, I maintain that this would have only robbed us off a few years of wines. The earth is what makes Burgundy taste so unlike anything else, and unless he did some serious damage to that, I don't think that even something as extreme as poisoning grapevines would have any truly lasting effects on the vineyards.

My understanding is that DRC's GCs run an average of 40-50 years, Vogue's Musigny is the same. Even if the ground wasn't toxic, you can't replace that vine age in a few years.

[Jenise]

My understanding is that DRC's GCs run an average of 40-50 years, Vogue's Musigny is the same. Even if the ground wasn't toxic, you can't replace that vine age in a few years.

Of course you're right, Dale, but I thought she was presuming that the vines would recover as compared to dying off completely.

On my several visits to Burgundy, the thought has crossed my mind about how totally unguarded these precious vineyards are. A band of arsonists could burn Romanee-Conti to the ground at night and never be caught.

-Paul W.

On my several visits to Burgundy, the thought has crossed my mind about how totally unguarded these precious vineyards are. A band of arsonists could burn Romanee-Conti to the ground at night and never be caught..

I've had similar thoughts about the lack of official security in wine regions in general. Most other industries don't leave their most valuable commodity open for everyone to walk through. I was more curious about the possibility for rival winemakers to pick other people's grapes but most regions are small communities and I guess word would rapidly spread.

The initial reports (about a month ago) mentioned weedkiller, which I assumed in large concentrations would kill vines. In any case it would compromise the soil, as DRC has been somewhat organic and switching to bio-d. And of course de Vogue young vine Musigny ("Chambolle-M 1er") sells for a fraction of the actual Musigny.

Wasn't there a case (in Bordeaux?) a few years ago where someone opened blending vats and destroyed entire production of a small chateau?