In het Verenigd Koninkrijk is Beaumont Vintners met de noorderzon vertrokken. Het pakhuis is leeg en de telefoon wordt niet beantwoord. De klanten bleven achter zonder ook maar iets van hun, soms dure, bestellingen te hebben ontvangen. Een van die bestellingen betrof een reeks Lafite-wijnen uit de jaren 2004 tot 2007. Decanter bericht:

Another UK fine wine company has disappeared from the radar leaving orders unfulfilled – while its director sets up a similar company under another name.
Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac Bordeaux 1er cru classe

 

Beaumont Vintners Ltd, a wine investment company set up in June 2010 and registered in Fulham, London, sold a client – who wishes to remain nameless – Chateau Lafite vintages from 2004 through to 2007.

 

The cases of the 2004 and 2005 never arrived at EWGA Ltd, the Lancashire bonded warehouse used by Beaumont Vintners.

 

EWGA Ltd told Decanter.com the client was not alone: it had had ‘a number of calls from Beaumont clients whose wine is not in the warehouse and who cannot contact the company, who are not answering the phone.’

 

Decanter.com has also been unable to contact Beaumont Vintners either by email or phone.

 

Meanwhile Beaumont’s sole director, Samuel Philips, 30, is also the sole director of another wine investment company – Alexander Barclay Wines Ltd, formed in August 2011 with its registered office in London’s ultra-exclusive district of Knightsbridge.

 

Alexander Barclay’s website is very similar to that of Beaumont Vintners.

 

Its introduction reads, ‘Alexander Barclay is Formed by a group of experienced and successful businessmen and traders, Alexander Barclay's are providing an opportunity for our clients to gain a foothold in the thriving and prosperous fine wine market.’

 

Beaumont Vintners’ introduction is identical: ‘Formed by a group of experienced and successful businessmen and traders, Beaumont Vintners are providing an opportunity for our clients to gain a foothold in the thriving and prosperous fine wine market.’

 

The name Beaumont Vintners Ltd appears on the Alexander Barclay site: ‘Beaumont Vintners uses relative pricing, industry supplied information,…’

 

Alexander Barclay claims to store wine at EWGA Ltd, although EWGA told Decanter.com it has no account for Alexander Barclay Wines Ltd, will not be opening one and has made a complaint to the Trading Standards Authority.