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The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 8:36:50 AM   
smahk

 

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Joined: 2/23/2007
From: NY & FL
Status: offline 		Interesting piece on Dr. Vino today...

The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine

"One sommelier told me this week that he opened a bottle that a collector had brought in. Although it a celebrated 1947 Bordeaux was written on the label, when he pulled the cork, it read 1966 Rioja. So, here’s the etiquette question/ethical quandary: should the somm have alerted the diner to the fake right away or let the him and his companions enjoy the wine as if it were what was on the label?"

What would you do if you were the somm? What would you like the somm to do if you were the customer that brought in the bottle?

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 8:38:22 AM   
pjaines

 

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Status: offline 		Oh dear - I would have told the customer. For comedy value alone.

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 8:41:58 AM   
Hollowine

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines

Oh dear - I would have told the customer. For comedy value alone.


+1 on the comedy side.

I would have told the customer simply because if he had an insurance policy that might cover this he would want to know. Not to mention the legal pursuits that he may wish to consider as well, especially if this were just one of an OWC he purchased for $25,000

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 8:42:59 AM   
wadcorp

 

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Status: offline 		This sounds like a "going postal" moment.

I would have told the customer who brought the wine in private. Bad form to announce it to the entire table.

.

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 8:46:19 AM   
S1

 

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Status: offline 		just pour it into a fake Riedel Swan decanter

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 8:48:21 AM   
mgriffith

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: wadcorp

This sounds like a "going postal" moment.

I would have told the customer who brought the wine in private. Bad form to announce it to the entire table.

.


Agreed with the in private sentiment. Of course, having it recorded (sound and image) for personal use would almost be required.

Now, let's complicate things a mite.

Suppose the bottle is opened tableside in full view of all the guests and you note the issue. All I can imagine doing is making a pretense that you are concerned about the cork condition and request that the patron join you 'in better light' to examine it more and the bottle more closely.

My nightmare would be that the patron accuse you of some shenanigans and make a scene.

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 8:49:12 AM   
wadcorp

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mgriffith

My nightmare would be that the patron accuse you of some shenanigans and make a scene.


Oh, you can almost guarantee it.

.


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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 9:11:15 AM   
ChrisinCowiche

 

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From: Cowiche, WA
Status: offline 		Isn't standard ettiquette for the Som to present the cork to the wine person at the table specifically for this purpose?  To verify the markings on the cork?    I think the Som should just present it as normal and let the diner do with the cork as he/she pleases.

My bet would be that 95% of the time the diner would sniff the cork, check it for sediment and set it down.  If I were the Som I would then whisk it away before another guest looked at it, and ask the owner to speak with them in private.

If the dinner does notice the discrepency on the initial pull and presentation, hopefully the Som will have done the cork removal in full view as is normal and doesn't have pockets full of other wine corks.        

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 9:26:43 AM   
cgsihler

 

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From: Las Vegas, NV
Status: offline 		Chris is right, the Somm should always present the cork(unless it is synthetic), additionally, I'm not sure that the Somm should have inspected the cork prior to presenting it to the customer. Then again, this was an old wine that was probably decanted using a cradle, candle, etc., and it would have been hard for the Somm not to notice. I would have told the customer immediately, better to be embarrassed that you got duped on a purchase, than to let everyone drink(what I am sure they would have all celebrated with every sip) and then be embarrassed that they had no idea they were drinking a fake.

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RE: The etiquette of pouring a counterfeit wine - 3/16/2012 9:29:55 AM   
musedir

 

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Status: offline 		Awk-ward!

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