Dibao Wine Case: Château Lafite Rothschild 1988 and 1991 Find New Homes

A Health-Related Cellar Decision

On the previous Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Chan contacted the team through WhatsApp. He was a busy corporate executive working in Kowloon who occasionally opened a bottle at weekends.

Seller Details

• Seller: Mr. Chan, corporate executive in Kowloon
• Reason: At a recent annual medical examination, Mr. Chan was told that his blood pressure was elevated. His doctor strongly advised strict alcohol control and changes to his routine. He decided to release part of his cellar rather than leave the bottles unused. This is his personal case, not medical advice; individual decisions require a qualified clinician.

Mr. Chan sent two photographs. The first showed a 1988 Château Lafite Rothschild bottle lying in wooden-case packing material with an apparently intact label. The second showed a 1991 bottle whose glass and capsule appeared well presented in the image. Photographs alone do not establish authenticity, storage history or internal wine condition.

Physical Review and Handover

The source notes different Left Bank weather conditions in 1988 and 1991 and attributes distinctive profiles in both vintages to Château Lafite Rothschild’s winemaking. These are general vintage descriptions, not bottle-specific tasting conclusions.

The parties arranged to meet at the Hong Kong review centre the following afternoon.

After Mr. Chan removed the two bottles from a temperature-controlled bag, the source records the following visible checks:

1. Fill Level (Ullage): both bottles were recorded at into-neck level. The source treats that as consistent with careful storage for bottles more than 30 years old; fill alone does not prove the full temperature and humidity history or internal quality.
2. Labels and Capsules: the source records light natural yellowing, no obvious tears or water staining, tight capsules and no visible seepage.

After the visible checks, the source says the parties agreed a quote, signed a transfer agreement and completed payment by bank transfer. It quotes Mr. Chan as saying that the sale created space and helped him follow medical advice. No amount, comparable set or universal timing is disclosed.

Bottle Record

The source lists the two bottles as follows:

Frequently Asked Questions

The following answers describe a cautious bottle-review process:

• Q1: What factors may affect a quote?

  • Consider producer, wine, vintage, format, current demand and, importantly, condition and provenance. Fill, label, capsule, seepage, storage records, packaging, inspection date, comparables and fees should be assessed together.

• Q2: Can a bottle without an original wooden case be considered?

  • Possibly. A complete 6- or 12-bottle OWC may support provenance and presentation, but a loose bottle can still be reviewed. Acceptance and price depend on the exact bottle; no premium or high quote follows automatically.

• Q3: How long does review and handover take?

  • Send clear photographs of the front label, back label, capsule and fill for an initial, non-binding review. If both parties wish to proceed, agree the location, physical inspection, payment method and handover timing for the exact bottles. There is no fixed review or settlement time.

Preparing a Bottle-Specific Review

Owners reducing a cellar for health, space or another personal reason can send exact bottle details. Privacy, data handling, quote, inspection, payment and handover terms must be confirmed for the collection; no universal outcome follows from this case.

Contact details can be used to request an initial review.

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