It's a common occurrence for retailers and restaurateurs to discover discrepancies during inventory checks. Whether it's a stolen bottle here or a case of breakage not correctly written off there, such incidents are part of the business. However, discovering that wines worth over €1.5m are missing from the inventory is an extraordinary event. This is what reportedly happened to the 422-year-old Michelin-starred restaurant "La Tour d'Argent" in Paris, according to French media outlets like Le Parisien and Capital, as well as international publications like Decanter.
During the inventory at the beginning of the year, the absence of 83 bottles of wine was noted, including bottles of 1999 and 2011 Domaine Romanée Conti, valued at approximately €31,000 and €16,500 per bottle, respectively. The reports consistently mention that there were no signs of a break-in. La Tour d'Argent temporarily closed on April 30, 2022, for extensive renovations that lasted 15 months, making this inventory the first since 2020, as per Decanter. When approached by our sister magazine WEINWIRTSCHAFT for comments, the establishment chose not to discuss the incidents. An investigation is currently underway.
La Tour d'Argent is not only recognized as the inspiration for the animated film "Ratatouille" but also for hosting famous guests throughout history and for its wine list: a massive tome that must be wheeled to tables and includes vintages dating back to the late 19th century. When the Nazis occupied Paris in 1940, the then-owner is said to have hidden the best wines behind a false wall. Will the missing wines now also be hiding behind one of these? VM
