Romanée-Conti 2009 and 2014: Consecutive-Number Case Note

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) sits at the summit of fine-wine collecting. This Hong Kong case concerns Romanée-Conti Grand Cru from two vintages in original wooden cases, with three consecutive bottle numbers in each set. The DeBao spelling in the source is standardised here as Dibao Wine.

This case note follows a collector whose interest in Romanée-Conti met a decision to simplify his life.

Collector Profile and Reason for Sale

• Seller information: Dr. Lam, a senior surgical specialist living in Hong Kong's Mid-Levels
• Reason for sale: To pursue a less possession-heavy lifestyle and remove the worry of maintaining a private cellar.

Dr. Lam is described as a meticulous surgeon who acquired the DRC bottles through private channels more than ten years earlier. As his priorities changed, he began applying a decluttering philosophy to his collection.

Dr. Lam said that hotter summers, typhoons and the possibility of a power failure made him worry about the temperature-and-humidity equipment while he was at work. He felt that caring for these delicate bottles had begun to occupy too much of his attention.

Rather than carry that storage concern every day, Dr. Lam chose to release the Romanée-Conti bottles that demanded the greatest care. The source says he wanted them handled by a buyer with climate-controlled storage and access to collectors so that he could return to a simpler routine.

Bottle List and Inspection Record

When the review team arrived at Dr. Lam's Mid-Levels residence, the six DRC bottles were beside their original wooden cases (OWC). The team recorded Ullage, labels and visible bottle condition under light. These external observations supported the review but did not prove authenticity, storage history or internal condition by themselves.

Bottle Information Recorded in This Case

Evidence Note: The source characterises DRC production as very limited and 2009 as a celebrated Burgundy vintage. It records 2009 bottle numbers 00031, 00032 and 00033, and 2014 numbers 00868, 00869 and 00870. Consecutive numbers can be useful catalogue evidence, and 868-870 may appeal to collectors who value auspicious numbers. They do not prove that the bottles were never separated, establish an unbroken chain of custody or create a fixed premium. Provenance still requires invoices, storage records and bottle-specific inspection.

After the bottles were reviewed, Dibao Wine made an offer informed by dated auction and market references. Dr. Lam accepted it, the parties agreed the bank-transfer and handover terms, and the bottles were moved by the arranged logistics team. The outcome and timing were specific to this transaction.

Fine-Wine Buyback FAQ

Q1: How is a DRC or other high-value Burgundy quotation assessed?

A: A review can consider dated Liv-ex and auction references together with the exact wine, vintage, fill, label, capsule, original wooden case (OWC) and numbering. Those factors support a bottle-specific quotation; they do not establish a price above the market.

Q2: Can a bottle still be reviewed without its original wooden case or with a lightly worn label?

A: Yes. Packaging and presentation can affect a quotation, but a single bottle may still be assessed from its identity, provenance and physical condition. Photographs support an initial review; authenticity and internal condition require further evidence.

Q3: How are privacy, handover and payment handled?

A: Inspection location, confidentiality arrangements, cash or bank-transfer method, FPS availability and handover sequence are agreed for each transaction. The seller and buyer should confirm cleared funds and transfer terms before releasing the bottles.

Q4: Can a brief power failure affect a temperature-controlled cabinet or cellar?

A: The effect depends on duration, temperatures reached, bottle history and any seepage or closure damage. A fill, cork position and wine clarity can reveal warning signs, but none proves the internal condition. Collectors should retain service and temperature records where available.

Contact Dibao Wine About a Private Bottle Review

If a wine collection is taking more time or space than intended, the owner can prepare a bottle list, photographs and provenance records for an initial review. Availability, inspection, quotation, payment and collection terms remain subject to bottle verification and agreement.

The following channels are listed in the source for enquiries:

• WhatsApp: 96737259
• Tel: +852 96737259
• WeChat: Sam96737259

The DeBao spelling in the source refers to Dibao Wine — Hong Kong fine-wine buyback reviewed bottle by bottle.