Rudy's Auction

Jay_T · November 24, 2015, 3:19pm

Jon Clements:

Jay T.:

Bill Klapp:

Alan, you are completely missing the point. Many of these wines, probably most (I have not yet reviewed the entire catalog yet) were sourced by Rudy at auction and elsewhere to use as BLENDING wines to create his fakes. They are real, legitimate wines, untainted by Rudy’s fraud, save that he once owned them. It does not matter that they are once again in circulation. Many of them are probably not worth drinking on their own, but that is a different issue. The established Rudy fakes that were found are not part of the auction, and the catalog says so. Worse case, a very few bottles in this auction are Rudy fakes that were misauthenticated, but I doubt even that. The greatest risk here would be mistreatment of the wines during transit and storage AFTER Rudy was arrested. Well, that and the wines simply being crappy, old, off-vintage wines of uncertain provenance to begin with…

As I posted in the other thread on this topic, I think I would actually be willing to pay a premium for one of the less expensive bottles. It would be my first bottle ever purchased as a “collector”, never to be drunk. I think it would be kind of cool to own a bottle from Rudy’s collection. Ironically, with the established provenance (ha!), I bet it would increase in value given Rudy’s notoriety in the wine investment world.

I too would be interested in buying one of Rudy’s bottles but would actually prefer to buy one of the know counterfeits.

That’s a good point. I bet they destroyed them though.

Kirk.Grant · November 24, 2015, 4:03pm

I’m with Jay…I’d like to have a bottle in my cellar as a piece of history. However, I wouldn’t be willing to pay more than a few dollars for something that I never planned on opening.

Alan_Eden · November 24, 2015, 4:15pm

Bill Klapp:

Alan, you are completely missing the point. Many of these wines, probably most (I have not yet reviewed the entire catalog yet) were sourced by Rudy at auction and elsewhere to use as BLENDING wines to create his fakes. They are real, legitimate wines, untainted by Rudy’s fraud, save that he once owned them. It does not matter that they are once again in circulation. Many of them are probably not worth drinking on their own, but that is a different issue. The established Rudy fakes that were found are not part of the auction, and the catalog says so. Worse case, a very few bottles in this auction are Rudy fakes that were misauthenticated, but I doubt even that. The greatest risk here would be mistreatment of the wines during transit and storage AFTER Rudy was arrested. Well, that and the wines simply being crappy, old, off-vintage wines of uncertain provenance to begin with…

Bill

I get the point, even with that being said these still look like crappy wines. They are way past their sell by date in most cases

Bill_Klapp_deactivated · November 24, 2015, 5:08pm

That is certainly true in many cases.

robert_creth · November 24, 2015, 5:36pm

Would the sparkling wines be suspect? Seems like they might be worth a run and that they would be more difficult to screw with.

David_Glasser · November 24, 2015, 6:01pm

Again, lots of 1996 Clos des Goisses listed. Probably authentic. But well-stored?

David_K2 · November 24, 2015, 6:05pm

Did Rudy fake Champagne? If so, how did he retain the carbonation?

Alan_Eden · November 24, 2015, 6:18pm

You have something called sodastream in the US ?

Basically a CO2 cartridge that injects gas into any liquid, sure it would work on Champagne

Zev_R · November 24, 2015, 7:08pm

(Surprised no one’s already asked this but, do these come with labels or do I have to order them separately myself from Rudy’s brother in Singapore?)

Mark_Mason · November 24, 2015, 7:16pm

I’d like to try a couple of the fakes and actually drink them. He was considered one of the best blenders of our time, no?

mark_rudner · November 24, 2015, 7:21pm

absolutely. that and to have authentic glass bottles to be re-filled

Ian_Dorin · November 24, 2015, 8:01pm

This is the like the Madoff auction. Seems strange to be buying these.

scott_c · November 24, 2015, 9:54pm

Why? Auctions like these benefit the victims of crime.

Ian_Dorin · November 24, 2015, 10:58pm

I know, it’s just a strange vibe to it.

etomasi · November 25, 2015, 2:04am

I dunno, I would take a run at some of the champagne if the reserves werent so damn high… and I had an alcohol license and could bid.

Robert_Pavlovich · November 25, 2015, 4:32pm

Very apropos that this is happening in Texas.

paulbortin · November 25, 2015, 6:57pm

Alan Eden:

Bill Klapp:

Alan, you are completely missing the point. Many of these wines, probably most (I have not yet reviewed the entire catalog yet) were sourced by Rudy at auction and elsewhere to use as BLENDING wines to create his fakes. They are real, legitimate wines, untainted by Rudy’s fraud, save that he once owned them. It does not matter that they are once again in circulation. Many of them are probably not worth drinking on their own, but that is a different issue. The established Rudy fakes that were found are not part of the auction, and the catalog says so. Worse case, a very few bottles in this auction are Rudy fakes that were misauthenticated, but I doubt even that. The greatest risk here would be mistreatment of the wines during transit and storage AFTER Rudy was arrested. Well, that and the wines simply being crappy, old, off-vintage wines of uncertain provenance to begin with…

Bill

I get the point, even with that being said these still look like crappy wines. They are way past their sell by date in most cases

Not so sure, didn’t Allen Meadows and many others love Rudy wines at those legendary tasting extravaganzas?

These are the wines!

Walt_Hoehler · November 27, 2015, 4:31pm

inventory list with starting prices… fascinating.

http://www.txauction.com/forms/Inventory%20List%2012-8-15.pdf

Andrew_Kaufman · November 27, 2015, 4:54pm

So Walt, what ya buyin’ ?

Jay_Miller · November 27, 2015, 4:57pm

I’d actually love to be able to bid in that auction. Ah well.