Success of 2009 vintage 'makes buyers vulnerable to fraud'
The exceptional quality of 2009 Bordeaux has sparked fears that wine traders in China may be mounting a scam, it has been revealed.
A number of wine merchants have told Agence France-Press that Shanghai traders have conned buyers into ordering wines like Chateau Lafite and its second growth, Carruades de Lafite, with no intention of delivering the produce.
Francois Leveque, president of the Bordeaux wine and spirits brokers' syndicate, told the news provider that none of the 2009 vintage grand cru classe wines have been released, meaning anybody pricing the wines already is almost certainly a fraudster.
The concerns underline the importance of sourcing fine wine from a reputable vendor, according to Simon Davies, head of marketing at Fine & Rare Wines.
"We source to order from a well established network of growers and suppliers, this means that our customers always get their wines - and at the right price," he added.