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Chester County Hospital Hopes To Take In Confiscated Wine

By Alexandria Hoff

CHESTER COUNTY, P.A. (CBS) -- Even an amateur sommelier knows that the good stuff typically has to be fetched from a back room.

You may have to travel to New Jersey to find a really good selection. In Pennsylvania, the state buys its wine largely in bulk, so finding a rare vintage would be...well rare to say the least.

Last year a Chester County attorney had to fork over a collection estimated over $100,000 after police say he and his wife illegally transported it in from New Jersey and distributed it.

The couple disputes that.

This month, the couple settled with the state and was able to reclaim about half the collection.

That left 1,404 bottles of rare vintage wine and what would make for a better  home than the Chester County Hospital?

Rather than destroying the wine, currently stored in a police evidence room, but a little know legal loophole could allow it to be turned over to the hospital.

The couple's attorney released the following statement in regards to the couple's hope for the wine:

"...that the remaining wine be donated to an appropriate entity that can benefit from its sale, rather than be destroyed. The Chester County Hospital would be a worthy recipient."

A judge will decide next week if the wine can be auctioned or possibly even used in another way.

For enthusiasts, it's an idea that makes the idea of a trip to the hospital a little less painful.

 

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