Winedrops

A new scammy company in the UK

@Jeff_Leve can you confirm if this is legit?

Judging by the scores, sounds like they’re saying it’s 2022 Pontet Canet. Seems unlikely this is the grand vin. The 500 pound price also seems fairly optimistic, grand vin or otherwise.

Seems likely you’d be paying standard price for the hypothetical second or third wine of Pontet. Or maybe they made that up too, just like the scores and the rrp.

Oh they’re scammers with two upheld ASA complaints already. Just wanted to flag to Jeff that someone is potentially completely misrepresenting his opinion should he wish to sue or file an ASA complaint

2 Likes

Very icky stuff indeed. I’d hate seeing my name used to lure people into the trap

I’ve never seen or tasted the wine. Though I’ve heard of it. And what I’ve heard is probably not true.

Do you have the company’s email? I’ll ask them to remove me as it’s a complete fabrication.

Thanks for the tip.

FWIW, these are not not lawsuits. Usually when you ask for removal, they delete. If not, you file a DMCA takedown notice with the hosting company and it’s usually completed in a few days.

Hosting companies are liable for damages as the publisher, not the content provider.

2 Likes

No I don’t have their email but the website is winedrops - id file a complaint to the UK ASA as well for the false advertising, which they do a lot of

I’m fairly sure that the wine is made by Maison Sichel, a négociant, judging by the label. They also make a “declassified” Margaux. I don’t live in the UK but I vaguely remembered seeing it in The Times once. The price is good (offered by Fine Wine Direct for £40). All the “scores” are complete BS. Sichel also claims it to come from a top château, but this could be any château, not necessarily a CC.

Judging by the scores I think Rhoads is right. I didn’t know that Pontet Canet sold whatever is judged to be not good enough for the top wine, but since they don’t have a second wine anymore, it’s plausible.

Correction: '22 Pontet Canet matches some of the scores, not all. As far as I can tell, no '22 Pauillac actually has this set of scores at all. Seems to be the scores from '22 Leoville Barton. Or possibly just a random set of scores. Not that it matters or is the main point here, but I thought it amusing.

You cannot do it that what. You need to reach out to the site owner. Allow time, then find their hosting company, file a complaint and they are given 48 hours to comply, if I recall correctly.

FWIW, at various estates, some wine is sold in bulk to negociants who bottle it as an appellation wine, but the source is never attributed.

A small percentage of every vineyard goes to the government to produce spirits.