Napa Valley Case: Opus One 1979 and an Undated Screaming Eagle
This Hong Kong source case concerns Mr Chan, a 52-year-old financial-institution executive who released two Napa Valley wines to help fund a local ...
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Bordeaux and Burgundy occupy much of the fine-wine collecting conversation, but Napa Valley also has highly sought-after wines. This source case records Dibao Wine's assessment of two California bottles while preserving the seller's account and separating visible observations from authentication or value conclusions.
Seller background and reason for sale
Seller profile: Mr Chan, age 52, a senior executive at a Hong Kong financial institution and an experienced wine collector.
The source says Mr Chan contacted the team through WhatsApp on the previous Wednesday afternoon. It describes a cellar containing leading Old and New World wines and says he chose these two California bottles to help fund a local arts-development project for children from low-income families, which he intended to sponsor personally in full. The relative date and charitable purpose are part of the source case narrative; no external record is supplied.
Assessment: two Napa Valley bottles
At an agreed time, Mr Chan brought the bottles to the assessment centre in a temperature-controlled bag. The source describes the team's excitement when the two bottles were removed.
In the source photograph, Opus One 1979 is on the left and Screaming Eagle is on the right. The Screaming Eagle vintage is not stated, so the two bottles must not be presented as sharing a known year.
Recorded bottle information
| Wine | Region | Vintage | Bottle size | Source condition note |
| Opus One | Napa Valley, California, USA | 1979 | 750 ML | Capsule described as intact, label well preserved and Fill Level very strong |
| Screaming Eagle | Napa Valley, California, USA | - | 750 ML | Label described as excellent, bottle without visible damage and temperature-controlled storage reported |
The team first examined the Opus One 1979—the source identifies 1979 as Opus One's first vintage. Opus One's official archive describes it as the inaugural vintage of the project created by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild. The source calls surviving market supply very low and records visible label signatures and a strong Fill Level after more than 40 years. Those observations do not prove Mr Chan's storage history, authenticity or internal condition.
The other bottle was Screaming Eagle. The source describes it as an exceptionally scarce Napa Valley Cult Wine allocated through a Mailing List. It records an intact eagle label and makes a stylistic reference to Cabernet Sauvignon, but supplies neither the bottle's vintage nor producer documentation for the allocation or production claims. Visible presentation alone is not authentication.
Source quotation and handover
The source says the team reviewed claimed Provenance, Fill Level, cork presentation and label integrity and consulted current global auction information before making an offer. These inputs support assessment but do not confirm Provenance, authenticity or a competitive price.
The article attributes this comment to Mr Chan: Dibao Wine's offer was fair, and the bottle review felt transparent and professional, allowing him to advance the arts project more quickly. It says the parties signed an agreement and payment was arranged at the meeting. This is a source-reported, case-specific outcome, not independent proof or a general price, timing or payment commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The source gives the following notes for other collectors considering a sale:
1. How does Dibao Wine say it assesses a fine-wine offer?
The source lists producer, vintage, market scarcity, recent auction results and bottle condition, including Fill Level, label, Capsule and Provenance documents. These factors should be reviewed together; they do not ensure an objective, market-matching or accepted offer.
2. Can an older Opus One bottle with light label wear be considered?
Yes, subject to bottle-specific review. Light yellowing or minor wear can occur during ageing. Legibility, Fill Level, Capsule and documentary history all matter. The source advertises a high offer, but no price level is assured.
3. What transaction process does the source describe?
Send clear photographs through WhatsApp for an initial indication. If both parties wish to proceed, the seller can bring the wine to the assessment centre or arrange an in-person visit. After physical review and agreement, the source says payment may be completed at the meeting. No fixed response, visit, authentication, acceptance or settlement time is promised.
Contact Dibao Wine
Collectors releasing cellar space or reallocating funds can request a bottle-specific review. Professionalism and fair pricing are service aims; no outcome is assured.
Contact Dibao Wine for a complimentary initial enquiry:
- WhatsApp — 96737259
- Tel — 852 96737259
- WeChat — Sam96737259
Send label, vintage, volume, capsule and fill-level photos. Di Bao Wine will review the visible condition and current demand.
