In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot&#39;s gripping memoir &quot;FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation&quot; reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world&#39;s most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

As the proprietor of Domaine Ponsot, one of Burgundy&#39;s most prestigious estates, Ponsot&#39;s journey began when he discovered counterfeit bottles of his family&#39;s wine at an auction &ndash; including vintages that had never been produced. What followed was an exhaustive investigation that would span continents, involve federal authorities, and ultimately lead to the first criminal prosecution for wine fraud in US history.

While many know this story from the documentary &quot;Sour Grapes,&quot; Ponsot&#39;s firsthand account offers fascinating new details and important corrections to the film&#39;s narrative. His motivation transcends mere business interests; it&#39;s a deeply personal crusade to protect not just his family&#39;s legacy, but the integrity of Burgundy&#39;s winemaking heritage and France&#39;s cultural patrimony.

The book excels in depicting the methodical detective work required to expose sophisticated wine fraud. Ponsot&#39;s expertise as a winemaker proves crucial in spotting telltale signs of counterfeiting, from impossible vintages to subtle inconsistencies in label design and glass manufacturing. His persistence in the face of initial skepticism from auction houses and collectors highlights how deeply embedded fake wines had become in the fine wine market.

The stakes of wine fraud remain alarmingly high today. Experts estimate that counterfeit wines represent anywhere from 20% to 50% of the secondary market for rare vintages, potentially accounting for billions in fraudulent sales annually. And while Kurniawan&#39;s conviction marked a watershed moment in combating wine fraud, the story didn&#39;t end there. Since his release and return to Asia, rumors have swirled about his continued connections to the wine world &ndash; a sobering reminder that the vulnerabilities exposed by his case continue to plague the industry. The fight against sophisticated wine counterfeiters remains as urgent as ever.

Ponsot&#39;s narrative skill brings the investigation to life with cinematic flair. From clandestine meetings with FBI agents to the dramatic auction room confrontation that helped build the case against Kurniawan, each chapter ratchets up the tension. The technical details of winemaking and authentication are explained clearly enough for general readers while satisfying even the most knowledgeable oenophiles.

What elevates this book beyond a simple true-crime narrative is Ponsot&#39;s passionate defense of wine as more than just a luxury commodity. His writing conveys the deep cultural significance of Burgundy&#39;s winemaking traditions and the moral imperative to protect them. The righteous anger that fuels his investigation is balanced by moments of humor and an insider&#39;s perspective on the sometimes absurd world of ultra-premium wine collecting.

&quot;FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation&quot; is essential reading for wine enthusiasts, but it&#39;s equally compelling for anyone who enjoys tales of justice served. Ponsot has crafted a fascinating expos&eacute; of high-stakes fraud and a love letter to the authentic winemaking traditions he has spent his life defending. Hollywood would be wise to option this story &ndash; it has all the ingredients of a classic thriller, made all the more remarkable by being true.

In an era where authenticity seems increasingly rare, Ponsot&#39;s unwavering commitment to truth and tradition is refreshing. This book isn&#39;t just about wine fraud; it&#39;s about standing up for what&#39;s right, regardless of the personal cost. For anyone interested in wine, true crime, or simply a well-told story of principle triumphing over greed, &quot;FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation&quot; is a must-read.

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FBI &ndash; Fake Bottles Investigation, is available in English! 
Self-published by Laurent Ponsot, it is for sale&nbsp;for 22 euros. 
 
If you would like to have your copy, please contact at FBIbyLP@gmail.com or you can find the French version here at <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fbi-laurent-ponsot/1144002655?ean=9782749955964">Barnes and Nobles</a>.&nbsp; 
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In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Dear Margaret

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Dear Margaret, an authentic French Canadian restaurant in Chicago.

Wine List Review at Dear Margaret, Chicago

Tina Johansson

Dear Margaret

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

TJ: Thank you, happy to be back Robert.

RT: Today we&rsquo;re diving into the wine list of Dear Margaret in Chicago. It&rsquo;s run by chef Ryan Brosseau who opened the restaurant in honor of his grandmother Margaret just over two years ago and it&rsquo;s already a success. Margaret was French-Canadian so of course the food here is as well, but still working with local producers.

TJ: Yes, how about duck leg cassoulet or caramelized sweet potato with black garlic? They also have a healthy selection of fine cheeses which is hard to say no to. Everything is presented with a comforting, homemade vibe which very much lives up to the romantic image of one&#39;s grandmother&rsquo;s cooking. The wine list is quite short with about 20 listings each of red and white, but despite that, they manage to represent the world of wine quite well with wines from classic areas like Chablis and Champagne, to areas on the rise at the moment like New York and Bierzo in Spain.

RT: I do like the more rustic cooking from time to time and with all the accolades this restaurant has gotten in two short years, I&rsquo;m sure the food is even better than it sounds! So what are we drinking first, something fresh to start off with together with servings like the Pommes Dauphines with oyster mousse? Maybe they have something Canadian on the list?

TJ: I&rsquo;m afraid there&rsquo;s nothing Canadian on the list, yet at least! But I would propose we start with something from another cool climate region &ndash; Nahe in Germany. The 2020 D&ouml;nnhoff Oberh&auml;user Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, so Riesling with a bit of sweetness to handle the high acidity that comes naturally in a wine from such a cool climate. The sweetness will also go great with the sweetness coming from the fried potatoes.

&nbsp;

RT: Off to a good start with a producer like D&ouml;nnhoff. What else would you drink with the hearty food cooked in Dear Margaret?

TJ: Why not go to red next, something with a bit of body and fruit concentration to handle the flavors. They hold the 2018 Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda, the Mendoza family is one of the leading producers of Alicante in southern Spain. The Monastrell grape used is perhaps not very well known outside of Spain, but it gives ripe and generous fruit aromas but with a good tannin structure. And fairly priced like so many of the bottles on the list here!

RT: Continuing with something from a very warm climate instead that is, what a fun comparison. What&rsquo;s your best wine on the list then? The bottle to pick for a big celebration to make the night extra special?

TJ: Since the list is a bit short it&rsquo;s a bit easier to choose just one bottle for once. There is one wine that really stands out to me. The 2018 Domaine du Closel La Jalousie, a Chenin Blanc from Savennieres in the central Loire Valley of France. It&rsquo;s one of my favorite producers of Chenin Blanc because all of their wines have a deep fruit concentration but sharp acidity. It&rsquo;s the kind of wine you could also age for a long time, if you&rsquo;re patient enough to wait that is&hellip; I can tell you straight away that I won&rsquo;t be, so I&rsquo;d be happy to have this with some of the cheeses here that we talked about earlier. For me, this is one of the best wine styles with a selection of different kinds of cheese.

RT: I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;ll be patient either, so I&rsquo;ll take you up in that celebratory bottle as soon as possible. Thank you for your great recommendations, Tina.

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to:

Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

END

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Kettmeir is a historic winery located in the heart of the Alto Adige region in Northern Italy. Founded in 1919 by Josef Kettmeir, the winery has been producing some of the finest wines in the region for over a century. Kettmeir’s commitment to quality and innovation has helped it become a benchmark for Italian wine production, and its wines are enjoyed by wine lovers around the world.

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CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Corduroy

Louis Michel & Fils

Chablis Premier Cru 'Montmain' 2015

Chardonnay

Chablis, Burgundy, France

Domaine Grand

Veneur, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France

Menade

Verdejo 2018

Verdejo

Castilla y Leon, Spain

Sole

Fiorini Terre al, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro 2011

Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Caudala

Bodegas, Syrah Paal, Spain, Navarra 2014

Syrah

Navarra, Spain

Barboursville Vineyards

Vermentino Reserve 2016

Vermentino

Virginia, USA

Januik

Bacchus Vineyard Riesling 2016

Riesling

Columbia Valley, USA

Solena, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2021

Oregon, USA

Dupeuble

Beaujolais Rouge 2015

Gamay

Beaujolais, France

Collosorbo

Rosso di Montalcino 2015

Sangiovese

Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Coeur de Terre Vineyard

Pinot Noir 2018

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

Château Coupe-Roses

Orience 2017

Blend

Languedoc, France

Early Mountain

Eluvium 2012

Blend

Virginia, USA

Chaume Arnaud

Vinsobres 2014

Blend

Rhone, France

Adelsheim

Pinot Noir 2020

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA