ChardonNOIR – Episode 3: Tainted Notes

Claire photographed the torn label before Burns could confiscate it.

Reserve Selection. Vintage 2019.

The problem? Her aunt’s winery never made a Reserve Selection in 2019. That year’s harvest had been destroyed by frost. Every bottle. Every barrel.

Or so she’d been told.

“Who’s the victim?” Claire asked.

Burns flipped open his notepad. “Marcus Vine. Wine distributor from the city. Showed up uninvited to the tasting.”

“Uninvited,” Claire repeated. “But he had this label.”

She pulled up her aunt’s old records on her phone. Marcus Vine. The name appeared three times in the ledger. All payments. All marked CONFIDENTIAL.

He’d been buying wine from her aunt. Wine that wasn’t supposed to exist.

“Claire.” Burns’ voice was low. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Before she could answer, Beatrice appeared at her elbow, wine glass in hand, smile sharp as broken glass.

“Such a tragedy about Marcus,” she purred. “Though I suppose he should have been more careful about who he did business with.” Her eyes glittered. “Some secrets are worth killing for.”

Claire’s phone buzzed. Unknown number. One text:

“Stop digging or you’re next. The cellar ghost doesn’t forgive.”

She looked up. Beatrice was gone. Rex was watching from the shadows. And Burns was staring at her like she’d just become a suspect.

Somewhere in this vineyard, someone was hiding a fortune in illegal wine.

And they’d already killed once to protect it.

Episode 1: https://wineanddrama.com/chardonnoir-episode-1-death-by-chardonnay/

Episode 2: https://wineanddrama.com/chardonnoir-sour-grapes-episode-2/

Episode 4: https://wineanddrama.com/chardonnoir-episode-4-bitter-finish/