Sébastien David will he have to destroy 2000 bottles of its vintage “Coef” vintage 2016? This organic wine producer, who performs Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (Indre-et-Loire), will be fixed on his fate Monday. The interim relief judge of the administrative court of Orleans will make its decision on that day. “I will receive the decision on Monday by email,” explains the Figaro Sébastien David.
As we pointed out in a previous article, a prefectural decision – taken following a survey of the directorate-general for competition, consumption and repression of fraud (DGCCRF), which requires that he destroy over 2,000 bottles of his production before Monday, may 13. A decision that would jeopardize his activity: it would be for him a loss of 50,000 euros.
At the heart of the controversy? The”volatile acidity” of the wine. Inspectors from the DGCCRF believe in effect that its wine has an acid content too high. They recorded a figure of 21.8 (milliéquivalent per litre), whereas the european standard is 20 maximum. But Sébastien David has conducted his own investigation: two counter-analyses are contrary to the results of the DGCCRF and give a figure below the european standard (19,3).
A petition of support for the winemaker’s approach to the 150,000 signatories
The administrative court of Orléans would have had to make his decision on Friday, at a hearing where many growers had come to support Sébastien David (see the tweet from his lawyer, Eric Morain, below), but the judge finally decided to postpone his decision on Monday.
“Friday, we were able to explain, argue and everyone has set out its point of view,” says Sébastien David. The winemaker is now waiting for the court decision with anxiety. “It is never easy being in a bombshell”, he says. If the judge believes that the prefectural order is valid, Sébastien David will have to destroy the batch of 2000 bottles or send them in a vinegar factory. “In the opposite case, I have to return to the DGCCRF and see what we’re doing,” he continued. “It’s a little earthen pot against the iron pot. I did, however, nothing against the DGCCRF,” concludes Sébastien David. The winemaker can in any case count on popular support, massive. A petition titled “Support Sébastien David vigneron bio!”, currently online change.org had over 145,000 signatories Saturday, may 11 at 17h.
Contacted Thursday by Le Figaro , the prefecture of Indre-et-Loire department did not respond to our solicitations.
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