Romanee-Conti is one of those luxury wines that’ll break your bank. The average bottle runs between $900 and $1,000. In 1993, and a case of the stuff—vintage 1978—sold for a whopping $476,280.

With such staggering prices, the folks at Romanee-Conti wouldn’t want anything to happen to their vineyards.

In January 2010, Romanee-Conti co-owner Aubret de Villaine received a map of his Burgundy vineyards and a letter demanding $1.27 million. According to the map, the crook had already poisoned two of his vines and would attack further unless the ransom was paid. The blackmailer demanded someone stuff the cash in a suitcase and meet him in a nearby graveyard at night. Police set up camp around the cemetery, and a Romanee-Conti representative dropped off a case full of paper. Authorities nabbed the crook as soon as he showed up.