Depardieu, auctions, Copia, Michigan – tasting sized pours

Buyers wanted
The IHT reports that fine wine buyers “are pushing back.” Separately, wine auction house Acker Merrall gives potential buyers come hither eyes and cuts their buyer’s premium to 18 percent; Zachys responds by going to 17 percent.

Adieu, Copia?
Copia, the wine, food and art museum and restaurant in Napa City, closed on November 21 and has filed for Chapter 11. The original $55 million in funding came at least half from Robert Mondavi. The NYT promises more coverage tomorrow. [Diner’s Journal]

Biodynamics is poop
In what promises to be a salty interview, French actor-vintner-restaurateur Gerard Depardieu–who once joked that his mother’s amniotic fluid was actually wine–disdains biodynamics claiming the vineyard treatment “doesn’t exist.” Then he claims that he uses biodynamics at his Chateau de Tigne property in Anjou only because he is “poor.” [Decanter]

Michigan: no delivery?
A federal court struck down Michigan’s law that prohibits out-of-state retailers from shipping to Michigan residents while allowing local wine stores to deliver. While the case is on appeal, a new bill in the legislature tries to create a level playing field–by preventing local wine stores from delivering! See the op-ed against the bill in Crain’s Detroit Business.

4 Responses to “Depardieu, auctions, Copia, Michigan – tasting sized pours”


  1. Re: the wine buyers pushing back. We certainly saw evidence of this at the Beaune wine auction two and a bit weeks ago. The three biggest buyers were MIA, and the prices dropped by an average of 25%. All of this, yet the vinters I know here in Burgundy are all talking about how the 2008 vintage is blowing their socks off in barrel tastings.

    Hark! Is that a good investment opportunity calling???

    Laura in Burgundy (from over at http://www.grapejournal.blogspot.com)


  2. depardieu must be a roaring drunk


  3. Yeah, as always politics for the powerful and elite. I know of the issues in Michigan and its amazing the state is falling apart and they will do anything to stamp out competition to ensure there right to control and profit.

    Same garbage in Illinois with the out of state shipping laws.

    Previously I had ordered from out of state and it was almost never due to price factors, but due to “availability” or lack there of. While internet searches are great there is no way to find out if something you are looking for is located at any particular shopin your state as there is no complete, up to date published database to access.


  4. I’ve been following Michigan and I was just reading about the Illinois issues over on Fermentation as well. In the end, between out-of-state and local retailers, I hope the real winner is the consumer.


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