Reminds me in a small way of Stag’s Leap vs Stags’ Leap.
From the article. Could the brand’s biggest supporter also be used as evidence against the brand? Strange turn of events.
Kind of makes you pause on what we post here.
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Here’s some evidence for Bonham and Martin Ray and whoever:
GFY. You screwed up dN by taking it full corporate, repackaging garbage wines from your own production, removing any satisfaction guarantees, and just going quantity over quality.
It was your poor business practices and greed that left a void that needs to be filled, and no-one else is better to fill the void than Cam.
Use that as evidence.
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I hadn’t heard of Bob Pepi before. I see he’s only mentioned once in the Berserker archives, too.
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The Bob Pepi angle is super interesting and one you would think Benham’s high priced lawyers would have tracked down.
Quite a twist that The Negociant label and name already existed way before de Negoce was a twinkle in Cam’s eye.
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So is de Negoce in violation of The Negociant’s trademark given that it existed before dN? 
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About a year ago, we started to see back vintages of Bob Pepi’s “The Negociant” Pinot Noir being liquidated on WTSO. I had wondered about the crossover between this and Cams new name.
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Great article. I’m famous mom!
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Matt you deserve it!
honest to god, I thought Courtney Benhem was a woman
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Ok yall. I’ll just fan the flame:
At first the Hughes/Benham marriage was working out great
And had now lost the magic and they feel the need to litigate
Like 50% of matrimony they lost their passion and fire
And now there not talking to each other, they talk through esquires
At first the separation was collegial and somewhat chill
Cam walked away with alimony of a cool 12.5 mil.
But cams rebound was too soon for Courtney’s liking
It’s seems like cam found a replacement lover as quick as lightning
cam had to agree that for 19 months he couldn’t remarry
Though some side pieces he was allowed to carry
Courtney fully expected cam to find a new dame
Cam showed up to the family party with a lover that looked the same
Courtney threw a fit and expressed his dissent
She had the same label, same shape, just a different accent
Martin Ray pointed out that the similarities were ever so stark
Cameron didn’t even put the effort to remove the accent mark
It was that one little mark that threw in the wrench
Maybe Martin Ray would not have sued if the name sounded less French
Cams response was that “it’s an apostrophe not an accent”
“If I wanted it to sound French, I’d have asked for martin’s consent
The jury is moved, and connected all the dots
When cam pointed out the typos in dn first 400 lots
Sure cam can tell the great wine from the junk
But we believe the accent is a typo, cus he types like he’s drunk
And with Cams new lover, Courtney felt twas a taunt
That he had her dress up in exactly in the same font
And since it was clear, they couldn’t amicably separate
It was clear the only option was for them to litigate
To have a fair outcome, they used the system to which this country adheres.
They we judged most fairy by a jury of their peers.
Antonio Galloni, and Jeb Dunnuck were on the jury
Robert Parker came out of retirement, quite in a hurry
One critic excluded, for a reason that we all could relate
James Suckling wouldn’t be helpful, as he would rate both sides a score of 98
All flocked to be on the jury, and to be part of the mix
It’s the most important California wine judgment since 1976
(I hope you appreciate what I did there)
Vineyard owners were excluded bc of conflicts of interest to judge on this crime
Cam reminded us he’s made low ball offers to every vineyard multiple times
Except Stan Kronke who sat and looked down from a position so regal
Since the only winery that that’s never sold to a negotiant was screening eagle
Courtney claims that gift cards violate the terms where wines couldn’t be sold or bought
cam responded, “I was just selling rides on my yacht”
Cam thinks he will get away with it and those suit he can’t lose
If he says no wine was sold, he was offering a boat ride with lots of free booze
The defendant points out the label is not that much of a sin,
The label doesn’t just say “the negotiant”, but includes his eponym
The fact that it’s the same name is a bunch of fake news
My new label say “the negotiant by Cameron Hughes”
And in a move that shocked both parties legal advisors
There entered a third party: the dudes from wine insiders.
In a sudden motion that would bring legal precedent and acclaim.
They turned to Cameron and stated “we literally own your name”
(My high school English teacher would my current use of poetry oppose
But at least be proud i worked “eponym” into my prose)
Also part of the suit included something quite dumb
It’s that martin ray’s feelings were hurt by posters on this forum
I’m as shocked as yall are, I thought I’d never seen the time
When law suit was explained by “some people made fun of me online”.
And we can all hope that these poorly written prose
Will not result in an outcome that gets me deposed
if I have to go to California to testify, I’ll bring all I’ve got
And I’ll certainly expect a ride on the yacht
Cameron if would want to like this poem there’s a way for it to work
Log out of your first account, and log in as Matt Turk
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Hear, hear!
“In its complaint, Martin Ray cited several Wine Berserkers comments as evidence that Hughes was deliberately trying to copy De Négoce’s label and steal its customers. One post reads: “Duuude…. Even the font! That’s awesome, great move on those lawyers!!!” Another: “The noncompete is over let’s f…ing go boys.” Since [news of the lawsuit surfaced in Wine Business, however, those who paid for the Négociant founding memberships have voiced concerns about getting their $1,000 back. Some have tried to re-sell their memberships.”
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That was, indeed, fake news. I’m the only one who posted about trying to re-sell my membership and it was such an obvious joke but I actually spoke to the reporter (hence why I’m quoted in the article!) and said it was a joke. Nobody else posted on here that they wanted their money back or were concerned about it, to my knowledge.
The drama over all of this is hilarious. People are really bored.
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Pretty OG Napa vintner.
He started purchasing vineyard land in the late 1960s. He fancied Sauvignon Blanc, which was his winery’s biggest production wine. He also was fond of Sangiovese, and it’s said his was the first commercially produced in Napa.
His winery was on St. Helena Hwy, roughly where Cardinale is now (not sure if it’s exactly the same building).
Cathy Corison made her wine at Pepi before she had her own winery.
I’m sure @TomHill knows a lot more!
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So cam built dn on a “stolen” brand and label. Then sold it it to Courtney. Then bought the original name and brand that he knocked off and when they come after him for knocking off the dn brand, he points out that dn is actually a knockoff of tn (which cam now owns) so he can sue dn for copyright/brand of infringement of the tn brand….
Cam playing 4 D chess here and we didn’t even realize it.
Disclaimer to Courtney’s lawyers: congrats on getting to bill $1000/hr to review if this post builds your case against Mr Hughes.
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A lot of strikingly similar labels in the annals of wine.
Years ago, Kendall-Jackson (unsuccessfully) tried to sue Gallo for trademark infringement, for the latter’s “Turning Leaf“ label.
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C’mon this is America, land of who’s Lawyer can beat up the other Lawyer…the lawyer that usually wins? Follow the money.
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The irony is a fight over labels for a business that sells wine to a specific market that by definition don’t care about labels!!!
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The reporter didnt do the story any favors by not pointing out how sarcastic your comments about selling were.
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