Vintage slip leaves sour residue

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 2

Vintage slip leaves sour residue

NZPA-AP New York A wine merchant showing off a bottle of wine once owned by Thomas Jefferson accidentally hit a serving tray, breaking the bottle and spilling the vintage contents.

Bill Sokolin was showing the bottle of 1787 Chateau Margaux to 300 wine lovers at a tasting at the Four Seasons restaurant on Sunday when he hit a tray and felt liquid running down his leg.

“I thought someone had spilled coffee,” Sokolin said. Then he noticed two holes in the bottle and saw that 80 per cent of the wine was gone. Sokolin obtained the bottle in October on consignment for an owner whose identity he would not disclose. He said he had had three offers for the bottle, including one for SUS3OO,OOO ($492,000). Sokolin was asking $U5519,000 ($850,800) for the bottle. He initially left the bottle at home, but returned home to fetch it after arriving at the lasting and seeing the crowd of wine lovers. Sokolin said the bottle was insured. What remained of the bottle’s contents gave Sokolin small consolation. “It tasted like it still had wine taste, but not very good,” he said.