Hundreds of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines stolen at French port

Hundreds of bottles of some of the world’s most expensive wine, belonging to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, have disappeared at Le Havre port in northern France just before being shipped to Canada, prompting French police to launch a theft investigation.

An estimated market value of the cache of wines has not been given, but Romanée-Conti 2012 was this week on sale for between £8,000 and £9,000 per bottle. DRC Echezeaux from the same vintage was around £500 per bottle.

DRC’s status means that its wines have become a target for both wine counterfeiters and thieves.

DRC wines supposed to arrive in Canada

On the 12 of October, dozens of cases of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2012 wines left their prestigious cellars for a new destination: the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) in Canada.

On the 14 October, the wines were in-bond at Le Havre, the French maritime hub. But, in November, the LCBO warned DRC that only a part of the order was in the container. Thirty-one cases had disappeared.

DRC co-owner Aubert de Villaine warned the authorities and lodged a complaint.