New wine fraud in Burgundy

It concerns the négociant Labouré-Roi, whose wines have never been on my shopping list. For those who read French, here is a link to a report in the French newspaper, Le Figaro, http://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/2012 ... rgogne.php .

I'm sure a report will appear soon in the English press, which always enjoys events discreditable to France and French wine in particular.

Here is a version of the story in English http://www.connexionfrance.com/Burgundy ... ticle.html .

Here is Decanter's report http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/ ... raud-probe .

As I predicted , some British tabloids are having a Francophobic field day with this story.

[David M. Bueker]

Here is Decanter's report http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/ ... raud-probe .

As I predicted , some British tabloids are having a Francophobic field day with this story.

Forget the actual tabloid stories. The comments are a hoot!

Here is Decanter's report http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/ ... raud-probe .
As I predicted , some British tabloids are having a Francophobic field day with this story.

The Decanter article states: "‘It was as if the company was managing to vinify 100% of its musts, which is impossible,’ he said. "

Anybody have any idea what the heck that means??
Tom

I think it means that they, for example, produced 100 hectolitres of grape must from their harvest in vintage X, and then sold 100 hectolitres of wine from vintage X. There is always loss during the winemaking process due to evaporation, spillage, sampling, etc. I don't know what the typical percentage loss is, but I'd guess it's always at least 10-20%. So where did that extra 10-20% of the wine come from? Not where the company says it came from.

The fraud must be pretty blatant if the AOC authorities can't look the other way. Either that or maybe someone failed to make the appropriate payoff, or got the wrong person angry at them.

-Paul W.