The Burgundy-based wine group, Cottin Freres, has reported turnover of €36.9m (US$42.2m) for the first nine months of the 2002/03 fiscal year, down 6.8% on the corresponding period in the previous fiscal year.

The company attributed the fall to a poorer performance in the second and the third quarters when turnover fell by 10.7% and 11.3% respectively.

Cottin Freres, which exports to some 30 countries, recorded a net profit of €2.5m (US$2.9m) on sales of €53.2m (US$60.9m) in the 2001/2002 fiscal year.