The US Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau confirmed that Constellation had bought an undisclosed amount of the adulterated Pinot Noir used by E & J Gallo for their Red Bicyclette range, according to a report in the Drinks Business. "Constellation has every reason to believe that it received wine made from Pinot Noir grapes from Sieur d’ Arques during those years, says a statement released by the company. However, the company confirmed that wine bought during that period is no more available in the market.
Gallo had bought roughly 20% of the 130,000 hL exported by Sieur d’Arques to the US between 2006 and 2008. "The wine purchased during 2006-2008 also had the required French documents describing the product as Pinot Noir and was tested internally, after the French tribunal began its hearing, and was found to contain Pinot Noir."
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said it was not currently involved in the case as no fraud seems to have been committed on the US soil. However, if it is alleged that E & J Gallo, Constellation and a third as-yet-unknown industry-leading company were aware of the fraud and went ahead with selling the product to US consumers, then the ATF would investigate.
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