Cars, cocaine and Cartier watches: court hears how one Bordeaux trader celebrated 2005
The head of a wine investment company has admitted going on a cocaine-fuelled spending spree with investors' money but denies fraudulent trading.
Jim Budd moved from education to wine in 1988 and has written for Decanter since 1989. He is the former editor (1991-2015) of Circle Update, the newsletter of the Circle of Wine Writers. He writes the award-winning www.jimsloire.blogspot.com and is one of the five members of the Les 5 du Vin blog. Budd exposes the dangers of drinks investment on his award-winning www.investdrinks.org website, and complementary www.investdrinks-blog.blogspot.com blog. He also contributes to Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, Wine Behind the Label and the Academie du Vin. Budd is a keen photographer – especially in the Loire.
The head of a wine investment company has admitted going on a cocaine-fuelled spending spree with investors' money but denies fraudulent trading.
Simon Baile, the former owner of Oddbins, has prompted a flurry of negative comment after buying five of his shops back from administrators Deloitte.
And the winner is...
The last Oddbins shops closed last night with the loss of around 300 jobs.
Thirty-seven Oddbins shops have been sold as a going concern to EFB (European Food Brokers) Ltd.
The administrators in charge of Oddbins are confident a deal will be finalised for the chain by the end of this week.
Interest in the Oddbins portfolio, range of shops and stock is increasing, while the winding up order from Pol Roger Ltd is withdrawn.
A senior Oddbins employee was paid a five-figure sum early in March in redundancy compensation, three weeks before the company's 120 staff were made redundant.
Oddbins has applied to go into administration to protect it from creditors applying for winding up orders.
Wine investment company director Benedict Moruthoane has been jailed for 7.5 years for fraud.
Bordeaux merchant 1855.com, which is being sued for failure to deliver paid-for wines, says its problems are due to the general economic downturn.
Dozens of orders, mainly from the 2003 and 2005 Bordeaux vintages, have been left unfulfilled by internet wine merchant 1855.com.
The trial of six people involved in three allegedly fraudulent wine investment companies started in St Albans Crown Court this week.
London fine wine merchant and broker Fine & Rare is for sale with an estimated price of £35 to £40 million.
Pancho Campo MW is no longer listed as a ‘fugitive’ on the Interpol website.
Wine investment company Wine Traders International Ltd has been ordered to close in the public interest.
2009 may be a great vintage, but before handing over your money, says jim budd, ask yourself if your merchant’s offer is too good to be true
For the first time ever the UK has a national fraud reporting and advice service.
The Metropolitan Police have arrested another two people in connection with the Nouveau World Wines fraud investigation.
Fraud squad officers have arrested six people in connection with an Australian wine investment scam.
Tim Atkin MW, the award-winning wine columnist and Decanter contributor, is moving to The Times newspaper.
A director and another man involved with wine merchant Templar Vintners have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud.
Tim Atkin MW’s weekly column in Sunday newspaper the Observer will be radically reduced from the end of this month.
Financial authorities on Guernsey have issued a warning against London wine merchant Templar Vintners for running an unauthorised wine fund.
The long-running conflict between Chaume and Quarts de Chaume in the Loire’s Layon Valley has been resolved.
Wine writer Martin Isark has issued a writ against Majestic Wine, claiming damages believed to be in the region of £50,000.
By changing its dominant grape from Pinot Noir to Sauvignon Blanc the famed Loire AC made its fortune. But the future looks red again, says Jim Budd
Wine writer Martin Isark is suing Majestic Wine over the alleged misuse of a tasting note.
The man behind a highly lucrative wine fraud operation has been sentenced to four and half years in prison for fraud.
Loire region Gros Plant du Pays Nantais has opted to become an IGP (Indication Geographique Protegee) rather than trying for appellation status.