Bordeaux UK goes into voluntary liquidation

The company, which sold wine investments through cold calls, was founded in 2002. The sole director is 32-year-old Ian Vanderhook.

It is known that clients of Bordeaux UK placed orders for Bordeaux en primeurs for the last two vintages – 2009 and 2010, and that the wines will be shipped from the end of this year.

Nedim Ailyan of insolvency practitioners Abbott Fielding in South London is the proposed liquidator.

He said they were approached by Bordeaux UK ‘some six or eight weeks ago’ with the idea of solvent voluntary liquidation - a voluntary winding-up of the company.

Ailyan said 'the continuing fall in the value of top wines made the company insolvent on paper'.

‘The deficiency may be less than £250,000,’ he said. ‘I have already been in contact with Octavian Vaults and a number of leading merchants and brokers. Whilst I haven’t yet had replies from all of these companies one leading firm told me they had orders for £135,000 and had received £120,000 in payment.’

However, both the liquidator and Octavian Vaults have been swamped with calls from worried customers wanting to know where their wine is, Ailyan said.

Bordeaux UK has two associated companies: NS & IV Ltd and Vin Bordelais Ltd.

NS & IV Ltd, founded in January 2011 with the same address as Bordeaux UK Ltd, changed its name to Bordeaux UK Ltd in early October. Three weeks later it was changed back to NS & IV Ltd. Ian Vanderhook is the sole director.

Vin Bordelais Ltd, founded in May 2011, uses the same logo as Bordeaux UK Ltd and the same contact number.

Staff who previously worked for Bordeaux UK Ltd, have contacted Octavian vaults on behalf of Vin Bordelais Ltd.

Laurence Douglas Adams, who as a company formation agent holds more than 3000 directorships, is the sole director of this company.

Attempts to contact Ian Vanderhook have been unsuccessful.

There will be a creditors’ meeting on 16 November to confirm the liquidation.