Police alert over wine offer

INVESTORS approached to buy fine wines by a Hertfordshire company called Bordeaux Wine Trading Company Ltd or its sister company International Wine Commodities should contact the police.

The wine is offered for sale 'en primeur' - still in the barrel - before being delivered to bonded warehouses in the UK and can cost about £5,000 for a case.

The wines offered for sale are from the Bordeaux region and include Lafite Rothschild, Haut Brion, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Latour.

Bordeaux Wine Trading Company Ltd is based in Potters Bar and should not be confused with the Bordeaux Wine Company Ltd of Cavendish Place, London W1.

International Wine Commodities is of 1 Berkeley Street, Mayfair.

Hertfordshire Constabulary want to speak to anyone across the UK who may have been approached to buy cases of wines from these companies over the last two years.

Anyone who has had contact with the companies should contact Detective Constable Peter Thody at Hertfordshire Constabulary on 01707 638414.

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of fraud and are currently on bail.