RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
- Don Cornwell
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1721
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 1:24 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Wine Spectator published its own article on Friday, October 16. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/ ... icaia-ring The Wine Spectator mostly repeats the details summarized above, but it contains one significant new fact.
Wine Spectator interviewed Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, co-owner and family ambassador for Tenuta San Guido, the producer of Sassicaia, who is quoted as stating: ""Thanks to the anti-counterfeiting systems that we use on the bottles, it was possible to immediately recognize them as fakes." So apparently there were some anti-counterfeiting measures that weren't overcome by the look-alike bottles.
Wine Spectator interviewed Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, co-owner and family ambassador for Tenuta San Guido, the producer of Sassicaia, who is quoted as stating: ""Thanks to the anti-counterfeiting systems that we use on the bottles, it was possible to immediately recognize them as fakes." So apparently there were some anti-counterfeiting measures that weren't overcome by the look-alike bottles.
Don Cornwell
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
- Br1an Th0rne
- GCC Member
- Posts: 522
- Joined: May 28th, 2009, 9:37 pm
- Location: Just outside of Philly
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Would be nice if Priscilla shared what those anti-counterfeiting measure are, so consumers could determine if what they are buying (or have already bought) are fakes. I’m sure the counterfeiters would love to have this information also...Don Cornwell wrote: ↑October 17th, 2020, 3:20 am Wine Spectator published its own article on Friday, October 16. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/ ... icaia-ring The Wine Spectator mostly repeats the details summarized above, but it contains one significant new fact.
Wine Spectator interviewed Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, co-owner and family ambassador for Tenuta San Guido, the producer of Sassicaia, who is quoted as stating: ""Thanks to the anti-counterfeiting systems that we use on the bottles, it was possible to immediately recognize them as fakes." So apparently there were some anti-counterfeiting measures that weren't overcome by the look-alike bottles.
- Sean S y d n e y
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1403
- Joined: March 1st, 2020, 3:20 pm
- Location: Toronto, ON
- Been thanked: 11 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
I'm sure the counterfeiters would like it too!Br1an Th0rne wrote: ↑October 17th, 2020, 3:48 amWould be nice if Priscilla shared what those anti-counterfeiting measure are, so consumers could determine if what they are buying (or have already bought) are fakes. I’m sure the counterfeiters would love to have this information also...Don Cornwell wrote: ↑October 17th, 2020, 3:20 am Wine Spectator published its own article on Friday, October 16. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/ ... icaia-ring The Wine Spectator mostly repeats the details summarized above, but it contains one significant new fact.
Wine Spectator interviewed Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, co-owner and family ambassador for Tenuta San Guido, the producer of Sassicaia, who is quoted as stating: ""Thanks to the anti-counterfeiting systems that we use on the bottles, it was possible to immediately recognize them as fakes." So apparently there were some anti-counterfeiting measures that weren't overcome by the look-alike bottles.
Instagram: @seansydney
-
- GCC Member
- Posts: 469
- Joined: January 18th, 2020, 9:30 pm
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 8 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Jason T wrote: ↑October 17th, 2020, 2:48 amDamnit, now I’ll always doubt the authenticity of those Ace of Spades jeros I’m sipping and spraying in the club. Well done.HoosJustinG wrote: ↑October 16th, 2020, 4:43 am I’m surprised such a sophisticated counterfeiting ring would be dedicated to making fake Sassicaia including fake OWCs and banding.
Frankly, I imagine there’s a much more lucrative market faking premium champagne with all that is sold at bars and clubs to people who have no idea what they’re drinking and only care about the label. It can’t be easy to get fake wine into the supply chain of wine shops and high end restaurants. I’d imagine club owners to be much more amenable/less suspicious to buying outside their normal supply chains than a wine shop owner or grocery store. I guess faking true Champagne is logistically harder due to secondary fermentation, but again, you could probably bottle tank method bubbles and most/all club clientele would have no idea ... and it’s not like it’s an unsolvable mystery that only top champagne houses have figured out. There’s plenty of producers making “traditional method” sparkling wine ... if these folks can figure out perfect Sassicaia OWCs, tissue paper, etc, they can figure that out too...



Those Ace of Spades bottles look expensive - cheaper to fake Dom!
If I were she, I might say this regardless of whether or not it’s true just to get it out there and put some seeds of doubt in the mind of fakers. If fakers think they’ve missed something on Sass bottles, they might move on to another producer.Don Cornwell wrote: ↑October 17th, 2020, 3:20 am Wine Spectator published its own article on Friday, October 16. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/ ... icaia-ring The Wine Spectator mostly repeats the details summarized above, but it contains one significant new fact.
Wine Spectator interviewed Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, co-owner and family ambassador for Tenuta San Guido, the producer of Sassicaia, who is quoted as stating: ""Thanks to the anti-counterfeiting systems that we use on the bottles, it was possible to immediately recognize them as fakes." So apparently there were some anti-counterfeiting measures that weren't overcome by the look-alike bottles.
Last edited by HoosJustinG on October 17th, 2020, 11:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
I'm a good man ... in fact, it's my last name
- Cris Whetstone
- GCC Member
- Posts: 11272
- Joined: January 27th, 2009, 1:09 pm
- Location: OC, CA
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 28 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Faking that would run the risk of improving on the original product.Jason T wrote: ↑October 17th, 2020, 2:48 amDamnit, now I’ll always doubt the authenticity of those Ace of Spades jeros I’m sipping and spraying in the club. Well done.HoosJustinG wrote: ↑October 16th, 2020, 4:43 am I’m surprised such a sophisticated counterfeiting ring would be dedicated to making fake Sassicaia including fake OWCs and banding.
Frankly, I imagine there’s a much more lucrative market faking premium champagne with all that is sold at bars and clubs to people who have no idea what they’re drinking and only care about the label. It can’t be easy to get fake wine into the supply chain of wine shops and high end restaurants. I’d imagine club owners to be much more amenable/less suspicious to buying outside their normal supply chains than a wine shop owner or grocery store. I guess faking true Champagne is logistically harder due to secondary fermentation, but again, you could probably bottle tank method bubbles and most/all club clientele would have no idea ... and it’s not like it’s an unsolvable mystery that only top champagne houses have figured out. There’s plenty of producers making “traditional method” sparkling wine ... if these folks can figure out perfect Sassicaia OWCs, tissue paper, etc, they can figure that out too...
WetRock
"Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true." - Francis Bacon
"I had taken two finger-bowls of champagne and the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant, elemental, and profound." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
"Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true." - Francis Bacon
"I had taken two finger-bowls of champagne and the scene had changed before my eyes into something significant, elemental, and profound." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
-
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: September 30th, 2009, 6:28 am
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
A German website is offering a Magnum of 1947 Lafleur with a certificate that supposedly does proof its authenticity. What do you think? We all know, that Madame Robin, producer of that era, said only 5 Magnums were made.
https://www.jahrhundertweine.de/shpSR.p ... 255&p2=682
https://www.jahrhundertweine.de/shpSR.p ... 255&p2=682
- Don Cornwell
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1721
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 1:24 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
While I haven't seen the purported magnum of 1947 Lafleur (as to which I would be highly dubious from the outset based on on the info from David Molyneux-Berry and Madame Robin), I can say that over the last 10 years I've seen approximately a dozen such "certificates of authenticity" and that in 100% of the cases the wine referenced in the certificate was absolutely counterfeit.Jürgen Steinke wrote: ↑October 28th, 2020, 5:23 am A German website is offering a Magnum of 1947 Lafleur with a certificate that supposedly does proof its authenticity. What do you think? We all know, that Madame Robin, producer of that era, said only 5 Magnums were made.
https://www.jahrhundertweine.de/shpSR.p ... 255&p2=682
I have also seen a considerable number of what I believed to be counterfeit wines offered for sale by this source. I have ZERO trust in Jahrhundertweine.
Don Cornwell
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
How about if an Acker Merrall sale receipt and a BurgHound tasting note?Don Cornwell wrote: ↑October 28th, 2020, 5:49 amWhile I haven't seen the purported magnum of 1947 Lafleur (as to which I would be highly dubious from the outset based on on the info from David Molyneux-Berry and Madame Robin), I can say that over the last 10 years I've seen approximately a dozen such "certificates of authenticity" and that in 100% of the cases the wine referenced in the certificate was absolutely counterfeit.Jürgen Steinke wrote: ↑October 28th, 2020, 5:23 am A German website is offering a Magnum of 1947 Lafleur with a certificate that supposedly does proof its authenticity. What do you think? We all know, that Madame Robin, producer of that era, said only 5 Magnums were made.
https://www.jahrhundertweine.de/shpSR.p ... 255&p2=682
I have also seen a considerable number of what I believed to be counterfeit wines offered for sale by this source. I have ZERO trust in Jahrhundertweine.
WineHunter.
-
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: September 30th, 2009, 6:28 am
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Thanks Don, I too don´t think this bottle is real. BTW – its a steal – its only 35.000 Euros 

- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Steal for buyer or seller?Jürgen Steinke wrote: ↑October 28th, 2020, 6:45 am Thanks Don, I too don´t think this bottle is real. BTW – its a steal – its only 35.000 Euros![]()
![[new-here.gif] newhere](./images/smilies/new-here.gif)
WineHunter.
- Jeff_M.
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: July 18th, 2019, 7:39 am
- Location: SoCal
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 7 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Isn't Rudy scheduled to be released next month? That is coming up really soon.
Jeff M 0 l l
2020 WOTY Candidates
2007 Yangarra Estate High Sands Grenache
1986 Spottswoode Cabernet
2012 Hartford Court Arrendell Vineyard Pinot Noir
2020 WOTY Candidates
2007 Yangarra Estate High Sands Grenache
1986 Spottswoode Cabernet
2012 Hartford Court Arrendell Vineyard Pinot Noir
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
only 5 magnums of lafleur made in 1947? Incredible that two are for sale right now 
https://www.vinsgrandscrus.com/chateau- ... agnum.html

https://www.vinsgrandscrus.com/chateau- ... agnum.html
|3 r 0 w |\|
-
- GCC Member
- Posts: 7678
- Joined: May 29th, 2009, 8:49 pm
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 26 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
+1Don Cornwell wrote: ↑October 28th, 2020, 5:49 amWhile I haven't seen the purported magnum of 1947 Lafleur (as to which I would be highly dubious from the outset based on on the info from David Molyneux-Berry and Madame Robin), I can say that over the last 10 years I've seen approximately a dozen such "certificates of authenticity" and that in 100% of the cases the wine referenced in the certificate was absolutely counterfeit.Jürgen Steinke wrote: ↑October 28th, 2020, 5:23 am A German website is offering a Magnum of 1947 Lafleur with a certificate that supposedly does proof its authenticity. What do you think? We all know, that Madame Robin, producer of that era, said only 5 Magnums were made.
https://www.jahrhundertweine.de/shpSR.p ... 255&p2=682
I have also seen a considerable number of what I believed to be counterfeit wines offered for sale by this source. I have ZERO trust in Jahrhundertweine.
I have been buying older bottles of VCC. I got a 1961 from them via a broker, who checked the bottle, and it was a pretty obvious fake. Beware.
ITB
-
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: September 30th, 2009, 6:28 am
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
I have a question. It is obvious that some companies deal with faked wines that cost tons of money. Why can these people operate without getting any trouble? The internet is open for anybody. The fraud is public and can be easily seen. Is there no interest from the police? Lets say from a team specialized for fraud? I mean we do not talk about stealing 5 dollars from someones wallet. The obviously faked Mags of 47 Lafleur cost about 25.000 Euros a bottle! I do not understand why these people can still offer those faked wines online and nobody cares. I guess its only a question of time until someone without enough knowledge and zero suspicion buys this stuff. I have no clue what the law is but my sense for justice is definitely hurt.
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
A new sucker turns 21 every day.
WineHunter.
- John Danza
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1542
- Joined: December 4th, 2009, 12:23 pm
- Location: Chicagoland
- Has thanked: 2 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
A new sucker with a lot of dough apparently. How anyone with the coin to consider a bottle priced in the five figures be unaware of all the fakery that's gone on over the past 30 years (rhetorical)?
John Danza
- Don Cornwell
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1721
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 1:24 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
JürgenJürgen Steinke wrote: ↑October 29th, 2020, 6:49 am I have a question. It is obvious that some companies deal with faked wines that cost tons of money. Why can these people operate without getting any trouble? The internet is open for anybody. The fraud is public and can be easily seen. Is there no interest from the police? Lets say from a team specialized for fraud? I mean we do not talk about stealing 5 dollars from someones wallet. The obviously faked Mags of 47 Lafleur cost about 25.000 Euros a bottle! I do not understand why these people can still offer those faked wines online and nobody cares. I guess its only a question of time until someone without enough knowledge and zero suspicion buys this stuff. I have no clue what the law is but my sense for justice is definitely hurt.
This has long been one of the big frustrations of wine collectors and the industry. The police and the prosecutors in most countries have been totally uninterested in pursuing counterfeit wines. In part this is based upon the fact that most law enforcement agencies have no knowledge or expertise in dealing with wine counterfeits, but, far more often, the police have no real interest in pursuing these crimes given their other law enforcement responsibilities. There is also a definite lack of concern/sympathy in some quarters because of the perception that it is only the wealthy who are wine collectors and getting victimized.
What I have found to be really appalling is that when major criminal counterfeiters are very occasionally arrested by law enforcement, outside of the US there is usually no real jail/prison time. When Alexander Iugov (alias "Alexander Anikin") got convicted for manufacturing and distributing more than $10 million worth of fake DRC, the penalty imposed was time served in jail while awaiting trial (about 2.5 years). The father-son team in Milan that produced much or all of the counterfeit DRC on behalf of Anikin was placed on house arrest in Italy. The French government requested their extradition, but the the Italian government refused. There is no indication that they were ever charged with or convicted of any crime.
When the Sassicaia counterfeiting scam was recently unveiled, a father-son team in Milan making the counterfeits (likely the same people I suspect) was placed on house arrest. The police said that they know the names of the people who produced the counterfeits, but no one else was arrested.
In 2018 Chateau Haut Brion discovered that a Chinese trading company was marketing counterfeit Chateau Haut Brion in China and filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in China. The Chinese government then opened a criminal investigation and in January of 2019 raided a warehouse where they found 1,268 bottles of counterfeit Château Haut-Brion wines in 750ml format, and another 9,321 bottles of the same wine in 258 ml bottling (the world's most obvious fakes) and 206 bottles of counterfeit Perrier-Jouët rosé Champagnes. Instead of arresting the people involved, the Chinese government MAILED the principal suspect a notice of a criminal investigation being initiated and directed him to appear at a police station for questioning sometime prior to October of 2020. https://vino-joy.com/2020/10/20/more-th ... -in-china/ Almost needless to say, the suspect fled and never showed up for the interview. Not even the keystone cops were this hapless.
There is a specialized unit which is (or was) a part of the French Gendarmerie office in Bordeaux which was allegedly trained and tasked to deal with counterfeit wines in France beginning in 2017 or 2018. I was informed about one case they were involved with involving counterfeit Chateau Petrus, but I have not heard anything further. The FBI collectibles fraud squad also has some agents who are knowledgeable about wine and are tasked to deal with wine counterfeits and similar crimes.
Don Cornwell
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
-
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: September 30th, 2009, 6:28 am
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Don,
all this is hard to believe and nothing but a scandal. I mean if it is right that the police shows zero interest because the victims are wealthy this argument isn´t logic. The police is interested if a thief steals a Picasso from someones house or if a fraudster tries to sell a faked Picasso. I do not see a big difference. Its a crime. Unbelievable.
all this is hard to believe and nothing but a scandal. I mean if it is right that the police shows zero interest because the victims are wealthy this argument isn´t logic. The police is interested if a thief steals a Picasso from someones house or if a fraudster tries to sell a faked Picasso. I do not see a big difference. Its a crime. Unbelievable.
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
It's probably cost and effort. You have to track down how these wines were faked, and by the time its realised, you might have five degrees of separation over 10-15 years, so you have a HUGE paper trail. It's not easy to certify a wine as being definitively faked, either, so you'd have to engage one of a very limited number of specialists to get a scientific assessment to verify the fraud.
Also, you'd typically ahve to be one of the injured parties I believe? (Lawyers please correct me if wrong) - so either the person who has bought the wine, or the chateau whose wines are being fraudulent produced?
Also, you'd typically ahve to be one of the injured parties I believe? (Lawyers please correct me if wrong) - so either the person who has bought the wine, or the chateau whose wines are being fraudulent produced?
|3 r 0 w |\|
- John Danza
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1542
- Joined: December 4th, 2009, 12:23 pm
- Location: Chicagoland
- Has thanked: 2 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
The Chicago Wine Company is messaging an auction next month that is a single collector "exclusively DRC". Nothing has been posted yet, but the web page here notes 31 lots. I guess it's natural to be jaded whenever seeing stuff like this. If I were in the market for anything high-end Burgundy, I would want to see the paperwork trail from the producer all the way to the person I was buying from.
Was it Manlin who said that there was some involvement with Chicago Wine Company and Bill Koch and his issues? It rings a bell but I can't specifically recall.
Was it Manlin who said that there was some involvement with Chicago Wine Company and Bill Koch and his issues? It rings a bell but I can't specifically recall.
John Danza
-
- GCC Member
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: January 29th, 2009, 3:54 am
- Been thanked: 8 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Cost and effort, as Henry stated, plus just not being able to relate. We see that with other crimes, some petty and some devastating to the victims. When it becomes known a certain type of crime isn't really punished, its frequency of occurrence can really take off.Jürgen Steinke wrote: ↑October 30th, 2020, 2:34 am Don,
all this is hard to believe and nothing but a scandal. I mean if it is right that the police shows zero interest because the victims are wealthy this argument isn´t logic. The police is interested if a thief steals a Picasso from someones house or if a fraudster tries to sell a faked Picasso. I do not see a big difference. Its a crime. Unbelievable.
ITB - Useless lackey
Can't stand bloody wax capsules.
Can't stand bloody wax capsules.
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Look at the financial sector. Nobody was jailed for deliberate financial mismanagement and fraud during Great Financial Crisis.Wes Barton wrote: ↑October 30th, 2020, 1:22 pmCost and effort, as Henry stated, plus just not being able to relate. We see that with other crimes, some petty and some devastating to the victims. When it becomes known a certain type of crime isn't really punished, its frequency of occurrence can really take off.Jürgen Steinke wrote: ↑October 30th, 2020, 2:34 am Don,
all this is hard to believe and nothing but a scandal. I mean if it is right that the police shows zero interest because the victims are wealthy this argument isn´t logic. The police is interested if a thief steals a Picasso from someones house or if a fraudster tries to sell a faked Picasso. I do not see a big difference. Its a crime. Unbelievable.
WineHunter.
- John Morris
- GCC Member
- Posts: 18469
- Joined: June 21st, 2009, 2:09 pm
- Location: Gotham
- Has thanked: 13 times
- Been thanked: 22 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Koch sued CWC over a Thomas Jefferson bottle. They settled in 2011:John Danza wrote: ↑October 30th, 2020, 7:10 am The Chicago Wine Company is messaging an auction next month that is a single collector "exclusively DRC". Nothing has been posted yet, but the web page here notes 31 lots. I guess it's natural to be jaded whenever seeing stuff like this. If I were in the market for anything high-end Burgundy, I would want to see the paperwork trail from the producer all the way to the person I was buying from.
Was it Manlin who said that there was some involvement with Chicago Wine Company and Bill Koch and his issues? It rings a bell but I can't specifically recall.
https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/koch ... any-41834/
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
- John Danza
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1542
- Joined: December 4th, 2009, 12:23 pm
- Location: Chicagoland
- Has thanked: 2 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Thanks for the reminder John.John Morris wrote: ↑October 30th, 2020, 2:12 pmKoch sued CWC over a Thomas Jefferson bottle. They settled in 2011:John Danza wrote: ↑October 30th, 2020, 7:10 am The Chicago Wine Company is messaging an auction next month that is a single collector "exclusively DRC". Nothing has been posted yet, but the web page here notes 31 lots. I guess it's natural to be jaded whenever seeing stuff like this. If I were in the market for anything high-end Burgundy, I would want to see the paperwork trail from the producer all the way to the person I was buying from.
Was it Manlin who said that there was some involvement with Chicago Wine Company and Bill Koch and his issues? It rings a bell but I can't specifically recall.
https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/koch ... any-41834/
I may have mentioned this somewhere earlier in this thread years ago. Back in 1996 when I was on a tour of Bordeaux, the small group I was with spent a few hours at Yquem. In the display case in their tasting room was one of these now known to be fake Thomas Jefferson Yquem bottles. I wonder if they finally removed it?
John Danza
-
- Posts: 310
- Joined: November 19th, 2009, 12:42 pm
- Location: San Francisco/London/Asia
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN Gets
FYI - Rudy gets released on Saturday.
What will become of him?
This is a man that stated in a letter to the judge, not that he was sorry, but that making counterfeit bottles was "the only thing [he] was ever good at."
So - what does the landscape look like for RK?
On Sat, he will be deported to, I believe HK where his brothers live. (Last I heard, Indonesia doesn't want him - but Don may know different.) After nearly a decade of study on production, forgeries and global markets, he'll be put on a plane, and dumped on foreign soil - after which our govt is done with him. There, he will be met with a significant stash of hush money, for not rolling on Kapon and the rest of the crooks and co-conspirators. He faces an industry that has transferred over to digital printing and which relies on cosmetic solutions in a world where he can easily tap suppliers willing to make exact replicas of glass, capsules and cork stamps and brands - when provided samples of the authentic thing and $$. He can also take advantage - esp. using his pay off funds - off readily available improved technology including professional grade digital printing machines to replicate the best of print jobs at relatively affordable prices if you are going to make a business of it. (A $500k printer is an easy investment if you are cranking out high end bottles!)
Or he will go straight.
I'm not holding my breath.
What will become of him?
This is a man that stated in a letter to the judge, not that he was sorry, but that making counterfeit bottles was "the only thing [he] was ever good at."
So - what does the landscape look like for RK?
On Sat, he will be deported to, I believe HK where his brothers live. (Last I heard, Indonesia doesn't want him - but Don may know different.) After nearly a decade of study on production, forgeries and global markets, he'll be put on a plane, and dumped on foreign soil - after which our govt is done with him. There, he will be met with a significant stash of hush money, for not rolling on Kapon and the rest of the crooks and co-conspirators. He faces an industry that has transferred over to digital printing and which relies on cosmetic solutions in a world where he can easily tap suppliers willing to make exact replicas of glass, capsules and cork stamps and brands - when provided samples of the authentic thing and $$. He can also take advantage - esp. using his pay off funds - off readily available improved technology including professional grade digital printing machines to replicate the best of print jobs at relatively affordable prices if you are going to make a business of it. (A $500k printer is an easy investment if you are cranking out high end bottles!)
Or he will go straight.
I'm not holding my breath.
#ChaiVault, WineFraud
- jordan jacobs
- GCC Member
- Posts: 407
- Joined: May 20th, 2010, 1:33 pm
- Has thanked: 7 times
- Been thanked: 6 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN Gets
Thank you for this scary albeit realistic commentary.Maureen Downey wrote: ↑November 2nd, 2020, 5:58 pm FYI - Rudy gets released on Saturday.
What will become of him?
This is a man that stated in a letter to the judge, not that he was sorry, but that making counterfeit bottles was "the only thing [he] was ever good at."
So - what does the landscape look like for RK?
On Sat, he will be deported to, I believe HK where his brothers live. (Last I heard, Indonesia doesn't want him - but Don may know different.) After nearly a decade of study on production, forgeries and global markets, he'll be put on a plane, and dumped on foreign soil - after which our govt is done with him. There, he will be met with a significant stash of hush money, for not rolling on Kapon and the rest of the crooks and co-conspirators. He faces an industry that has transferred over to digital printing and which relies on cosmetic solutions in a world where he can easily tap suppliers willing to make exact replicas of glass, capsules and cork stamps and brands - when provided samples of the authentic thing and $$. He can also take advantage - esp. using his pay off funds - off readily available improved technology including professional grade digital printing machines to replicate the best of print jobs at relatively affordable prices if you are going to make a business of it. (A $500k printer is an easy investment if you are cranking out high end bottles!)
Or he will go straight.
I'm not holding my breath.
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
May the Virus of 2020 exert some karma.
WineHunter.
- Rich K0rz€nk0
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1237
- Joined: January 27th, 2009, 5:41 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Has thanked: 18 times
- Been thanked: 14 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Sour Grapes 2: Electric Boogaloo
Time Person of the Year - 2006
- jordan jacobs
- GCC Member
- Posts: 407
- Joined: May 20th, 2010, 1:33 pm
- Has thanked: 7 times
- Been thanked: 6 times
- Keith Levenberg
- GCC Member
- Posts: 5665
- Joined: June 6th, 2009, 3:11 pm
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Has thanked: 8 times
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
even more infuriating than the prospect of Rudy going back to faking DRC is that he'll be able to go back to drinking it.
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Rudy gets out of jail: #2020...
Noah Raizman
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
- John Danza
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1542
- Joined: December 4th, 2009, 12:23 pm
- Location: Chicagoland
- Has thanked: 2 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN Gets
Maureen Downey wrote: ↑November 2nd, 2020, 5:58 pm FYI - Rudy gets released on Saturday.
What will become of him?
This is a man that stated in a letter to the judge, not that he was sorry, but that making counterfeit bottles was "the only thing [he] was ever good at."
So - what does the landscape look like for RK?
On Sat, he will be deported to, I believe HK where his brothers live. (Last I heard, Indonesia doesn't want him - but Don may know different.) After nearly a decade of study on production, forgeries and global markets, he'll be put on a plane, and dumped on foreign soil - after which our govt is done with him. There, he will be met with a significant stash of hush money, for not rolling on Kapon and the rest of the crooks and co-conspirators. He faces an industry that has transferred over to digital printing and which relies on cosmetic solutions in a world where he can easily tap suppliers willing to make exact replicas of glass, capsules and cork stamps and brands - when provided samples of the authentic thing and $$. He can also take advantage - esp. using his pay off funds - off readily available improved technology including professional grade digital printing machines to replicate the best of print jobs at relatively affordable prices if you are going to make a business of it. (A $500k printer is an easy investment if you are cranking out high end bottles!)
Or he will go straight.
I'm not holding my breath.
All true Maureen. Unfortunately, we couldn't execute him, which would be the only way to prevent him from continuing his criminal life. He'll now be living in an area of the world that not only tolerates that behavior, it actually seems to encourage it.
John Danza
- Sean S y d n e y
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1403
- Joined: March 1st, 2020, 3:20 pm
- Location: Toronto, ON
- Been thanked: 11 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN Gets
Jesus Christ, it was fake wine. Chill out.John Danza wrote: ↑November 3rd, 2020, 6:38 am
All true Maureen. Unfortunately, we couldn't execute him, which would be the only way to prevent him from continuing his criminal life. He'll now be living in an area of the world that not only tolerates that behavior, it actually seems to encourage it.
Instagram: @seansydney
- Glenn Gallup
- Posts: 229
- Joined: March 12th, 2012, 3:37 pm
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
If memory serves, (it doesn’t always) when the Rudy story hit West Coast media the comments columns had a number of people saying “so what” because some rich guys got cheated. It wasn’t half but it was a lot.
I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
-
- GCC Member
- Posts: 469
- Joined: January 18th, 2020, 9:30 pm
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 8 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Honestly keeping him in the country and making a condition of his release the complete disassociation from the wine trade would’ve been better if that’s the goal. Of course he could make fake wine and attempt to consign it via third parties, but after watching him spend a decade in jail, I would think he would find it more difficult to find willing accomplices in this country. Frankly, if you’re willing to risk a decade in the clink, there’s a lot easier ways to make money.
The fact that he is off to southeast Asia where - let’s be charitable and say that intellectual property protection is not a priority - is of significant concern.
The fact that he is off to southeast Asia where - let’s be charitable and say that intellectual property protection is not a priority - is of significant concern.
I'm a good man ... in fact, it's my last name
- Al Osterheld
- GCC Member
- Posts: 7430
- Joined: March 15th, 2009, 5:47 am
- Location: SF Bay
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 13 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
He doesn't have legal residence. Not a good precedent to give someone legal residence for being a crook.
-Al
-Al
- John Danza
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1542
- Joined: December 4th, 2009, 12:23 pm
- Location: Chicagoland
- Has thanked: 2 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN Gets
What, is English an issue for you? Maureen's comment was that Rudy will be in an area of the world that will finance his return to faking wines, with 10 years of technology advancement to assist him. My satirical comment essentially agreed with her, because there were no practical alternatives to the punishment he received for his crimes. Lighten up Francis.Sean S y d n e y wrote: ↑November 3rd, 2020, 6:44 amJesus Christ, it was fake wine. Chill out.John Danza wrote: ↑November 3rd, 2020, 6:38 am
All true Maureen. Unfortunately, we couldn't execute him, which would be the only way to prevent him from continuing his criminal life. He'll now be living in an area of the world that not only tolerates that behavior, it actually seems to encourage it.
John Danza
- Don Cornwell
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1721
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 1:24 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Rudy Kurniawan was released from prison into ICE custody yesterday (November 6). He was taken to the ICE El Paso detention center. A screen shot from the ICE website is below. The ICE website lists Rudy's country of birth as Indonesia. It is my understanding that Rudy will be deported to Indonesia.


Don Cornwell
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
Oxidized Burgs Wiki
http://www.gdeschamps.net/wiki/doku.php?id=start
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
John Kapon, Allen Meadows, and I were not notified in advance, to say good-bye in person. Disappointing.Don Cornwell wrote: ↑November 7th, 2020, 2:22 pm Rudy Kurniawan was released from prison into ICE custody yesterday (November 6). He was taken to the ICE El Paso detention center. A screen shot from the ICE website is below. The ICE website lists Rudy's country of birth as Indonesia. It is my understanding that Rudy will be deported to Indonesia.
![]()
WineHunter.
- Rich K0rz€nk0
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1237
- Joined: January 27th, 2009, 5:41 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Has thanked: 18 times
- Been thanked: 14 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
I'm sure you can send him a nice card. He'll understand.Victor Hong wrote: ↑November 7th, 2020, 6:57 pmJohn Kapon, Allen Meadows, and I were not notified in advance, to say good-bye in person. Disappointing.Don Cornwell wrote: ↑November 7th, 2020, 2:22 pm Rudy Kurniawan was released from prison into ICE custody yesterday (November 6). He was taken to the ICE El Paso detention center. A screen shot from the ICE website is below. The ICE website lists Rudy's country of birth as Indonesia. It is my understanding that Rudy will be deported to Indonesia.
![]()
Time Person of the Year - 2006
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
I can send a fake Hallmark greeting card, with according well-wishes.
WineHunter.
- Br1an Th0rne
- GCC Member
- Posts: 522
- Joined: May 28th, 2009, 9:37 pm
- Location: Just outside of Philly
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Interesting article on Rudy’s current status. https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2020/11 ... fraud-saga
- David Glasser
- GCC Member
- Posts: 7951
- Joined: August 16th, 2009, 6:03 pm
- Location: Maryland
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Br1an Th0rne wrote: ↑November 11th, 2020, 3:46 am Interesting article on Rudy’s current status. https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2020/11 ... fraud-saga
In asking for information about Kurniawan's potential deportation, Wine-Searcher has gotten a weird runaround from ICE. An ICE spokesperson first claimed not to be able to identify Kurniawan, even though Wine-Searcher sent his name and Bureau of Prisoners register number, which should lead ICE immediately to all the US government's information about him. The next day an ICE spokesperson claimed he wasn't in ICE custody, though the timing of that email makes it likely that he was.
On Monday, ICE said it was researching our query. So we waited another day to publish this. But we received no further response Tuesday: Not "ICE doesn't give out that information", or some other ordinary bureaucratic denial that reporters are accustomed to. These professions of ignorance by an official government spokesperson and serial dodging of a simple question are actually very unusual.
![rofl [rofl.gif]](./images/smilies/rofl.gif)
![rofl [rofl.gif]](./images/smilies/rofl.gif)
![rofl [rofl.gif]](./images/smilies/rofl.gif)
This is ICE you’re dealing with, Blake...
- J a y H a c k
- GCC Member
- Posts: 14036
- Joined: May 29th, 2009, 9:59 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Facebook just told me that I might know a guy named Rudy Kurniawan and suggested I friend him. Some of you are already his Facebook friends. I am not, but some of the comments on this page or wall or whatever you call it are funny. "If you can't make it, fake it."
Yes, that's a DM of 1978 Mouton!
You can read my Financial Institutions Law Blog at https://www.gdblaw.com/blog?practiceID=4985.
You can read my Financial Institutions Law Blog at https://www.gdblaw.com/blog?practiceID=4985.
-
- GCC Member
- Posts: 1789
- Joined: May 14th, 2016, 9:22 am
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Has thanked: 61 times
- Been thanked: 24 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Jay, I just came here to post the same thing about FB. Seems RK and I have three mutual “friends,” some more sarcastic than others.
- Mel Hill
- Posts: 6384
- Joined: January 27th, 2009, 12:56 pm
- Location: Colorado
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Joke account, let's see how much gas he or she has in the tank. I'm betting on not too much.
but, I'm along for the ride...
but, I'm along for the ride...
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 19662
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
- Location: Banana Republic of ‘Merica
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
May the ISIS warriors in Indonesia prosecute him accordingly for his love of alcoholic beverages.
WineHunter.
- Paul Jaouen
- GCC Member
- Posts: 4405
- Joined: January 30th, 2009, 12:48 pm
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
Same here. I was surprised at some of the people I know that were friends with him.J a y H a c k wrote: ↑November 12th, 2020, 7:07 pm Facebook just told me that I might know a guy named Rudy Kurniawan and suggested I friend him. Some of you are already his Facebook friends. I am not, but some of the comments on this page or wall or whatever you call it are funny. "If you can't make it, fake it."
Best,
Paul Jaouen
Paul Jaouen
- Izzy Nosnik
- GCC Member
- Posts: 188
- Joined: January 29th, 2009, 3:46 pm
- Location: DALLAS
- Has thanked: 1 time
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
It's a parody account made by one of the "Wine Knerds United". Along with "Jabroni Suckles" and a few others, they can be funny from time to time.
- J a y H a c k
- GCC Member
- Posts: 14036
- Joined: May 29th, 2009, 9:59 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 9 times
Re: RUDY KURNIAWAN & GLOBAL WINE AUCTION FRAUD THREAD (MERGED)
I always thought it was Heywood Djablohmi.Izzy Nosnik wrote: ↑November 13th, 2020, 6:43 am It's a parody account made by one of the "Wine Knerds United". Along with "Jabroni Suckles" and a few others, they can be funny from time to time.
Yes, that's a DM of 1978 Mouton!
You can read my Financial Institutions Law Blog at https://www.gdblaw.com/blog?practiceID=4985.
You can read my Financial Institutions Law Blog at https://www.gdblaw.com/blog?practiceID=4985.