Who says Rudy can't fail?

gregory dal piaz

gregory dal piaz
The collector, Rudy Kurniawan, who sold $35 million worth of wine in 2006 alone, was taken into custody in Los Angeles on mail and wire fraud charges filed in federal court in New York, according to court papers. Prosecutors from the office of the United States attorney in Manhattan were expected to move to return him to New York in the coming days.


This will require a lot of popcorn.
 
"Rudy Kurniawan had ascended to the upper ethers of the wine world on both coasts, renowned as much for his palette as for his eye"

I guess he sold many expensive varietals, too.

Not to beg, or anything.
 
“Mr. Kurniawan’s days of wine and wealth are over, if the allegations in this case are proven,” Mr. Bharara said in the news release. “As alleged, Rudy Kurniawan held himself out to be a wine aficionado with a nose for a counterfeit bottle, but he was the counterfeit, pawning off prodigious quantities of fraudulent wine himself to unsuspecting auction houses and collectors.”

"Prodigious" is very nice, there.
 
originally posted by Cole Kendall:
If he really sold $35 million in a year that would be an amazing number of fake bottles.
I doubt it was all fake but maybe we'll find out. Also were the revenues verified?
 
originally posted by Tom Glasgow:
originally posted by Cole Kendall:
If he really sold $35 million in a year that would be an amazing number of fake bottles.
I doubt it was all fake but maybe we'll find out. Also were the revenues verified?
The revenues are the easiest of all to check. I suppose the auction house put out a celebratory press release, they usually do.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Tom Glasgow:
originally posted by Cole Kendall:
If he really sold $35 million in a year that would be an amazing number of fake bottles.
I doubt it was all fake but maybe we'll find out. Also were the revenues verified?
The revenues are the easiest of all to check. I suppose the auction house put out a celebratory press release, they usually do.
the press release would inventory bottle counts and prices? Was it all sold at auction?
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
A friend writes, "be sure not to miss this one."

Though those inclined toward the editorial persuasion may wish to avert their eyes.

That's part of a 22 page thread on Wine Berserkers about Rudy reportedly consigning more suspect wine via another party at a recent Wine Spectrum auction, though the auction house has repeatedly stated Rudy was not the consignor. For those interested, the start of the thread is here.
 
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by SFJoe:
A friend writes, "be sure not to miss this one."

Though those inclined toward the editorial persuasion may wish to avert their eyes.

That's part of a 22 page thread on Wine Berserkers about Rudy reportedly consigning more suspect wine via another party at a recent Wine Spectrum auction, though the auction house has repeatedly stated Rudy was not the consignor. For those interested, the start of the thread is here.
Why we would we be interested? The parts I've read stay on point and never drift off into more interesting tangents.
 
originally posted by Tom Glasgow:
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by SFJoe:
A friend writes, "be sure not to miss this one."

Though those inclined toward the editorial persuasion may wish to avert their eyes.

That's part of a 22 page thread on Wine Berserkers about Rudy reportedly consigning more suspect wine via another party at a recent Wine Spectrum auction, though the auction house has repeatedly stated Rudy was not the consignor. For those interested, the start of the thread is here.
Why we would we be interested?

Because once parochialism sets in, you might vote for Santorum?

There are some fascinating parts to the thread and the posts detailing suspect bottles by Don Cornwell should not be missed.
 
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by Tom Glasgow:
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by SFJoe:
A friend writes, "be sure not to miss this one."

Though those inclined toward the editorial persuasion may wish to avert their eyes.

That's part of a 22 page thread on Wine Berserkers about Rudy reportedly consigning more suspect wine via another party at a recent Wine Spectrum auction, though the auction house has repeatedly stated Rudy was not the consignor. For those interested, the start of the thread is here.
Why we would we be interested?

Because once parochialism sets in, you might vote for Santorum?

There are some fascinating parts to the thread and the posts detailing suspect bottles by Don Cornwell should not be missed.
I agree the WB post is interesting. 22 pages on subject is something to be admired, but there isn't much thread drift on WB to begin with. I followed it when first posted but not for 22 pages, thus missing the part Joe linked to.
Why do you presume wisecrackers are for Santorum? It would seem to be the opposite.
 
originally posted by Tom Glasgow:

Why do you presume wisecrackers are for Santorum? It would seem to be the opposite.

You misunderstood my comment. Showing no interest in things leads to small-mindedness, which leads to votes for Santorum.
 
Grim news for some resellers out here - the NY and London auctions help to 'wash' the bottles (so that there's some recent provenance) which end up at auction, typically in HK, or being offered on broking lists.
 
originally posted by Brad Kane:
originally posted by Tom Glasgow:

Why do you presume wisecrackers are for Santorum? It would seem to be the opposite.

You misunderstood my comment. Showing no interest in things leads to small-mindedness, which leads to votes for Santorum.
Whom do you think Bill Koch is supporting?
 
I am amazed that Acker manages to stay out of the fray. It is rumored that Acker lent Rudy large sums of money. The whole group was too close for me. They obviously did not do their diligence on the Ponsot lot. I was at the auction and sat at the table next to Laurent Ponsot who flew in to make sure the bottles were not auctioned.

The other rumor is that Big Boy recently fell in love with Overnoy and is buying up the worlds supply.

The Good Old Days: Billionaire Winos
 
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