For the week of December 24 - 30, 2002

Man walks out on expensive wine bill

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By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer

Ketchum police are investigating a report that a Sun Valley man drank three bottles of wine at the Sun Valley Wine Co., worth a total of $541, then walked out without paying his bill.

According to a police report, the man was at the Sun Valley Wine Co. on Dec. 9, on approximately his tenth visit within a month. He drank one bottle of Etienne Sauzet Puligny Montrachet, worth $46.69, one bottle of Louis Roderan Cristal Rosé, worth $300, and one bottle of Champagne Salon, worth $195. Investigator Lee Edgerton said he shared some of the wine with other customers.

He then ordered and opened a fourth bottle, but declared it undrinkable. After arguing with the bartender over that matter, he stomped out.

According to the report, the man "is known to be a frustrating customer because he frequently returns opened bottles of expensive wine."

Edgerton said the man’s actions would be criminal theft only if he had planned on not paying the bill when he ordered the wine. She said she has not yet talked to him, but hopes to persuade him to end the matter by paying the bill.

 

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