Saw on Twitter that someone broke into the cellar of Gianfranco Soldera in Montalcino and opened the taps on all of his barrels and spilled every vintage from 2007 to 2012 onto the floor for a complete loss.

http://dobianchi.com/

If true, that is a tragedy

Holy cow.

I can't imagine such a thing.

Not saying it isn't true, but would the 2007 already be bottled?

Wow. This would be a real tragedy if true, whether the damage includes the 2007 vintage or not.

They bottle on their own schedule IIRC

I wonder if organized crime truly played a role in this like the article has speculated...

I don't have words...

Ugh.....

PH

Obviously did not want to pay the "distribution" tax.

Wow, can't imagine how they feel.

Geez, they could've just used a horse's head on their mattress to send a message.

sounds like a good retirement plan to me.

g-man, you think Soldera did this to themselves? I doubt it and hope they find the criminals.

Incredible. There are no words.
If it was organized crime, it's likely the culprits will never pay.

I know this winemaker. A great tragedy anyway you want to look at it. Yes the 2007 Brunello and the 2007 Riserva would already be bottled.

I feel for all involved. Not sure if I can grasp the thought of stand over merchants in Montalcino.

In the repubblica today, confirming the report by the owner. The article does not give much detail, however.

F%$#ing unbelievable

still whats the motivation

i dont get

Presumably pay us protection (or whatever they are calling it) or else - and this was the or else

But in a post published today by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, the mayor of Montlacino, Silvio Franceshelli, is quoted as saying that, "any allusion to phenomena that bear the mark of the mafia are entirely imaginary."



Devil's advocate.

the guy is what 68? maybe he's tired of being a farmer/winemaker. take that insurance payout and live out the life selling older vintages of soldera that wans't dumped and enjoying his time on the almafi coast.

I have the district pleasure to meet with Gianfranco Soldera on 3 separate occasions. I have also met his daughter Monica as well. I have been treated to several older vintages of Case Basse (incl. the inaugural 1975 vintage). I can say that I can only imagine the heartache that the entire family would have felt when this heinous act was uncovered. Gianfranco tasted his wines daily from the botti and always said the wine would tell him when it was ready to be bottled. He normally had 5-6 vintages in botti and I am not sure if the 2007 would have been bottled or not since the last vintages have been released as Riservas. Say what you will about Soldera (eccentric, genious, curmudgeon, nut) the man has made beautiful wine and did not deserve to have his wine lost in this manner. We are all losers in this event.

Only met the 2 of them once and Gianfranco only briefly but this is saddening. Those huge wood tanks are unique - as are the wall nets filled with rocks and boulders

60,000 liters equates to approx. 80,000 bottles of wine (assuming 750's). The retail value is roughly $16,000,000-$17,000,000. If his margins are 30-40% then the loss to the Soldera family is $5-7 million. Even if the wine loss is totally insured, then consider that 6 years of your life's work is gone. Truly tragic.