【Emperor Recycling Case Study】A Mid-Levels collector changed their taste and parted with six bottles of top-tier Burgundy La Tâche (including the rare 1942 vintage) in a successful transaction!

In the world of high-end fine wines, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) undoubtedly reigns supreme. Among its portfolio, the Monopole vineyard La Tâche is an exceptionally rare and sought-after wine by countless collectors.

This time, DeBourg is incredibly honored to have facilitated a significant fine wine transaction. Without further ado, let us share with you the true story of this exchange of six exquisite La Tâche bottles with Mr. Chan, a collector from Mid-Levels.

Seller Profile and Reason for Selling

• Seller: Mr. Chan (a seasoned finance professional in Central)
• Collection Experience: Over 15 years
• Reason for Selling: Mr. Chan's collecting preferences have shifted in recent years. From his original passion for French Burgundy wines, he has gradually become enchanted by top-tier single malt whiskies. He felt it was a waste to keep these exceptional La Tâche bottles in his wine cellar just for display without the opportunity to drink them. Coupled with a desire to reallocate assets, he decided to part with them to free up capital and invest in his new whisky collection.

Transaction Story: A DRC Feast Spanning a Century

Last Wednesday afternoon, DeBourg's WhatsApp received a message. Mr. Chan sent several photos, indicating he had a batch of Burgundy wines he wished to sell. Upon opening the pictures, my eyes lit up – neatly arranged in the photos were six bottles of DRC La Tâche!

In addition to the excellent vintages of 2016, 2005, the millennial 2000, and the classic 1990 and 2003, what truly astonished me was the bottle of 1942 La Tâche in the middle. 1942 was during World War II, with extremely limited production. For a bottle from that era to still exist today in such good condition is truly a museum-grade treasure.

We immediately discussed a preliminary valuation with Mr. Chan and scheduled an on-site inspection of the wines at his private cellar in Mid-Levels for the following day.

Upon arrival at Mr. Chan's professional cellar, we conducted a rigorous authentication. For the acquisition of top-tier fine wines, every detail determines its value:

1. Labels & Capsules: Although the label of the 1942 bottle was yellowed, showing signs of age, the text was still clearly legible. The labels and Monopole neck labels of the other vintages were beautifully preserved, without significant damage or mold.
2. Ullage: For old wines, the ullage is critical. Mr. Chan's cellar maintained perfect temperature and humidity year-round. Even for older vintages like 1990 and 1942, the ullage remained at a very healthy level, proving excellent control over cork micro-oxidation.
3. Color: Examined with a bright flashlight, the wine was clear with no noticeable cloudiness, displaying the captivating color characteristic of Burgundy Pinot Noir.

After a detailed assessment, we confirmed that these wines had a clear provenance and were excellently preserved. Considering the rarity of the 1942 vintage and the market demand for other vintages, DeBourg offered a highly competitive acquisition price, closely aligned with international auction house rates.

Mr. Chan, impressed by our professional inspection, transparent and prompt quote, and the saved transaction fees, immediately agreed to the deal. We processed an instant bank transfer on the spot, exchanging payment for the wines. The entire process was smoothly completed in less than half an hour. Mr. Chan even laughed and said that next time he had vintage whiskies to sell, he would definitely contact DeBourg again.

What We Collected