Rudy_Matt SQN Cuvee - Be Warned

[Bruce_Leiser_owitz]

@andy velebil

@Ron Kline

I think the fact that they sent a barrel of wine out with separate labels makes the whole resale of the wine suspect. Looking at the pictures of the wine in bottle it looks like the purchasers of the barrel may have used the SQN’s bottler and labels as they look similar to normal SQN bottles. But the fact of the wine leaving the premises in barrel makes it impossible to track. Then you have the wine changing hands unknown times from someone who is known to have been shady in the past. It’s one of those situations where most people will want to stay away from, especially at such a high price tag.

Ron,
The way I read it, they bottled and shipped the wines, but shipped the labels after. The later part being odd as to why they would do so as shipping out a shiner isn’t allowed IIRC.

Since it was a private/charity auction sale, rather than a sale to the general public, the rules might be different.

In an event, if someone had access to SQN labels separate and apart from the bottles, I think people can understand the authenticity concerns esp. given the cache of counterfeit labels found at Rudy’s home during the arrest.

Bruce

[Ian_Sutton]

Definite fraud - I’m certain the wine has been substituted for some wine called DRC, but passed off SQN.

[Mel_Hill]

@Bruce Leiser_owitz

@Mel Hill

that is exactly how he bid and won the SQN lot

Didn’t he and a friend show up to the HdR auction in a limo and then leave shortly after the auction, or am I misremembering that part of the scene?

Bruce

pretty much IIRC they drove a black SUV right to the auction

[Anton_D]

Hmm, I wonder what happened to the real barrel?

That would be a cool story.

[Ken_V]

@Neal.Mollen

@Bruce Leiser_owitz

Just so you know, there was at one time a special Hospice du Rhone lot of SQN that was offered up at the HdR auction. Rudy and Matt were the successful bidders on that lot, and the label read Rudy Matt cuvee:

2001 SQN Rudy-Matt Cuvée Red Rhone Blend

The auction was in 2002, and the vintage on the bottle was 2001 (not 2002). In any event, the Rudy Matt cuvee was a special bottling that did in fact exist, but whether what is presently being offered for sale are authentic bottles is another matter entirely.

Bruce

Thank you. This clarified the mystery (to me) caused by the OP.

Those pages are a great resource, eh?

[Ken_V]

Just to be clear, as I understand it, they divided up the bottles upon receipt. Matt Lichtenberg got his share, and if he was selling from that, I know of no reason not to trust him. Many fine people had the misfortune to associate with Rudy.

However, unless someone can show proof they got their bottles from Matt, I wouldn’t touch them at any price.

[Bruce_Leiser_owitz]

@Ken V

Just to be clear, as I understand it, they divided up the bottles upon receipt. Matt Lichtenberg got his share, and if he was selling from that, I know of no reason not to trust him. Many fine people had the misfortune to associate with Rudy.

However, unless someone can show proof they got their bottles from Matt, I wouldn’t touch them at any price.

I have tasted at least one of the R/M Cuvee bottles that Matt acquired, so I’m fairly confident based on my own tasting that that bottle was authentic. But certainly bottles coming from other sources would be dubious under all the circumstances.

Bruce

[Tom_Hall]

@Ledwards

@andy velebil

@Ron Kline

I think the fact that they sent a barrel of wine out with separate labels makes the whole resale of the wine suspect. Looking at the pictures of the wine in bottle it looks like the purchasers of the barrel may have used the SQN’s bottler and labels as they look similar to normal SQN bottles. But the fact of the wine leaving the premises in barrel makes it impossible to track. Then you have the wine changing hands unknown times from someone who is known to have been shady in the past. It’s one of those situations where most people will want to stay away from, especially at such a high price tag.

Ron,
The way I read it, they bottled and shipped the wines, but shipped the labels after. The later part being odd as to why they would do so as shipping out a shiner isn’t allowed IIRC.

Interesting to follow- what is the price that a collector would pay for scarcity value to round out a collection when the scarce wine cannot be verified and all of the supply was in the hands of a person convicted of massive wine fraud?

Alot of elements of human nature at play here but if you pay 42k for a bottle of skunked Rose, why the hell not buy the outlaw wine as you aren’t doing for the drinking experience anyway? Taking it a step further, aren’t one-off flawed collectibles often worth more anyway?? Quick, let’s go buy it!

Fair point re the 42K for the Rose, but at least there I knew it was genuine. Also, I guess its become a personal issue for me with the way the seller conducts himself. To be fair, I think the seller did buy these from Matt (well he bought some bottles from Matt) but I wouldn’t buy from this guy if those bottles were accompanied with a free Bentley with the back seat filled with cases of real DRC and Conterno. At some point the full story may come out, could be an interesting few months!!

[Steven_NG]

Interesting topic. I started collecting SQN about 8 months ago and use the finewinegeek.com website for reference. Great site BTW. I can’t afford any of his Picasso wines or real rare wines in the real world. But I actually think it doesn’t make sense for a Rudy Matt to be fake considering the attention it brings. Also from what I read a few were made, why would he waste the time to make them and also 10 years ago SQN was basically a cheap wine. He was busy making millions on mass produced wines like DRC. Also to find exact bottle and label for this wine also doesn’t add up. Personally If I can afford any of his really expensive wines I would have them checked either way by a pro. I would be more afraid of his other mass produced wines.

I also agree with Ledwards comment. To own a bottle of SQN and Rudy is pretty damn cool. I don’t have to worry about it, I can’t afford it. Maybe in another life.

[Ty_Hockstaff]

I get emails every year telling me to be patient on my allocation wait list…this year I did get an email about artwork for sale

[Dav3_Dyr0ff]

For the curious and deep of wallet, K&L has just listed a bottle of this wine. Opening bid is $4,050 (because, I assume, that extra $50 is crucial to the seller). Compared to the figures cited in the OP, it’s practically free!

[Tom_Hall]

Wow, shows how old Im getting, completely forget this thread ever existed. I ended up with two of the R&M over the years and drank one a year ago with somebody who drinks a lot more wine than me and both of us felt it was actually a genuine “SQN”. It was good but not great and definitely not worth the “risk premium” over SQN with a clear identity. Happy 2025 everybody

[Mel_Hill]

Been following the R&M SQN HdR auction lot from the very start!

No Idea who the guy on the far right is, he came with Rudy…

[Greg_Gardner]

Haha, I assumed that was Matt - guess not!