A Mid-Levels Collector Releases DRC and Château Lafite Rothschild

On a warm Thursday afternoon in early summer, the Dibao Wine team visited Mr Leung's Mid-Levels home for an on-site review. The source records a carefully kept parcel and a collector's reluctance to part with bottles he had enjoyed owning.

Collector profile and reason for sale

Seller: Mr Leung, 55, an import-export professional and long-time wine collector.

Reason for sale: The source says Mr Leung kept a temperature- and humidity-controlled cabinet in his living room. After his annual check-up the previous month showed elevated uric acid and blood lipids, his doctor told him to limit alcohol strictly.

Mr Leung is quoted as saying that he still enjoyed seeing the bottles, but accepted that health came first. Rather than leave the wines in the cabinet beyond their preferred drinking windows, he decided to release several bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild and DRC as a first step towards a healthier routine.

Inside the wine cabinet: bottle and condition review

Mr Leung had wrapped each bottle in cling film in an attempt to protect labels from cabinet humidity. This records the owner's method; it is not presented as professional storage advice, and the photographs alone cannot show whether moisture was trapped under the film.

The reviewers used a bright torch and checked visible wine clarity, ullage, cork area and capsule integrity. The source calls the parcel 'auction grade', but these visual observations are condition signals only; they do not prove authenticity, storage history or auction eligibility.

The source lists the following wines as part of Mr Leung's parcel:

Note: the same parcel also included Château d'Yquem 2011 and Opus One 2018. The source says they were included in the agreed purchase, but supplies no price or independent transaction record.

What visible condition can — and cannot — establish

To apply the checks in this Mid-Levels DRC and Lafite case to another bottle, record the exact wine, vintage, quantity, fill and label photographs, then use WhatsApp 96737259 to request an initial review.

Common questions

The source answers four practical questions for collectors considering a sale:

Q1: Can a bottle with a damaged or moulded label still be reviewed? A: Yes. Label wear or mould is common in humid climates, but its effect depends on severity, legibility, fill, seal, provenance and the rest of the bottle. A visual review cannot certify the contents or establish a competitive price.

Q2: Is an on-site review available, and what might it cost? A: Dibao Wine says it may offer an on-site bottle review by appointment in Hong Kong, including the Mid-Levels, Repulse Bay, Kowloon and the New Territories. Availability, travel arrangements and any fee waiver must be confirmed in writing for the individual enquiry.

Q3: How are settlement terms agreed? A: After the wine and price are confirmed, the parties may discuss cash, FPS or bank transfer. Payment method, timing, identity checks and actual receipt of funds should be agreed before handover; no instant-payment promise is made here.

Q4: What if I do not know the vintage or English wine name? A: Send clear photographs of the front label, back label and capsule by WhatsApp or WeChat. The team can use them for an initial review, but photographs do not replace physical inspection or authentication.

Helping a documented collection move on

Collectors with unused classified-growth wine, whisky or brandy can provide a bottle list, photographs and provenance for review. Any price and handover plan should be based on the actual parcel and written terms, not superlatives.

• Tel: 852 96737259
• WhatsApp: 96737259
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