Napa Wine Merchant Accused of Fraud in Client's Lawsuit

Aug 22, 2017

(WineSpectator) - DoubleLine Capital founder Jeffrey Gundlach is suing a Napa Valley wine retailer for more than $1 million, accusing the company of selling him 67 bottles of trophy wines that an expert labeled fakes.

In a lawsuit filed July 28 with the Los Angeles Superior Court, Gundlach accused Soutirage of false advertising, breach of contract and breach of warranty. “Disguising itself as a legitimate Napa Valley wine retailer, Soutirage has been operating a criminal enterprise for over a decade,” states the complaint.

Gundlach's lawyers filed a second suit the same day, accusing the company’s founders, Aimee and Chadwick Meyer and Matthew and Ashley Wilson, of fraud and negligent misrepresentation.

Soutirage, based in Yountville, Calif., has offered wine retail and sommelier concierge services since 2007, providing wines for collectors as well as for high-flying parties at events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and a private reception at Paris' Louvre museum. Current CEO and COO Chad and Aimee Meyer, respectively, both grew up in California wine country. Chad’s father, Justin Meyer, founded Silver Oak Cellars with Ray Duncan in 1972. Matthew Wilson, one of Soutirage's cofounders, left the company in December 2015 to start a similar retail venture, Company Fine Wine.


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