Maison Rostang confirmed today (4 July) that thieves had stolen an estimated €400,000-worth of fine wine from its cellars between 30 June and 1 July.
It said that many of the wines ‘can never be identically replaced’ due to their rarity.
Around half of the 150 bottles taken were old vintages from Burgundy’s celebrated Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Other wines stolen included vintages of top Bordeaux estates Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Petrus, said the restaurant in a statement.
Police have launched an investigation into the burglary, which the restaurant described as similar to a bank heist.
It said that it appeared thieves broke in by cutting a hole in one of the cellar walls.
Michel Rostang, chef and founder of the two-star Michelin restaurant, said, ‘We are very hurt by this theft, because this collection has taken 40 years to build.’
But, he said the restaurant had been touched by messages of support from friends and diners and he described the event as a ‘difficult test that the restaurant must overcome’.
The restaurant said that it remains open as usual, despite the ongoing police probe, and that it still has one of the most beautiful wine cellars in Paris.
The cellar contained around 50,000 bottles, according to the restaurant’s website.
This is an updated story, published on 4 July, following a statement from the restaurant with new details.
Original story published on 02/07/19
Maison Rostang wine stolen
Bottles of wine collectively worth hundreds of thousands of euros, and thought to include bottles of Petrus and wines made by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, have been stolen from top Paris restaurant Maison Rostang, according to reports.
Thieves stole between 150 and 200 bottles of wine after breaking into the wine cellars of Maison Rostang at some point on 1 July, according to Agence France Presse, which cited both a ‘source’ close to the investigation and an initial report by RTL.
Maison Rostang lies in the 17th Arrondissement north of the Arc de Triomphe. Credit: Google Maps.
It is believed the stolen wine could have a value of more than €400,000 and that missing bottles include those of legendary estates Petrus and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, from Bordeaux and Burgundy respectively.
It has been reported that staff at the fine dining restaurant found a small hole in the cellar wall.
Maison Rostang, which is located close to the Arc de Triomphe, has a 50,000-bottle wine cellar, according to its website. Founded by Michel Rostang, the restaurant has two stars in the Michelin 2019 guide for France.
News of the reported theft comes nearly two years after thieves were believed to have used the underground network of the Paris catacombs to steal fine wines from an apartment cellar in the city.
