The Auswine Forum

Hi all,

I recently received a delivery of wine purchased at auction (not Wickmans).

The wine was described as having a "cellar-damaged label".

There was no picture of the said wine.

My understanding of auction descriptions is such that cellar damage more relates to wear and tear from cellar racking.

Unfortunately the wine in question is stained from apparent leakage.

It's a 2000 vintage and the level is approx. 15mm below the bottom of the capsule - still into neck.

I suppose there are two issues here:-

1. Has the item been misrepresented?
I would say yes. I would suggest it should have had reference to stains and/or possible weeping.

2. Does the wine need to be returned to the auction house?
In some respects an argument could be mounted that if the answer to question 1 is yes, then it should be returned.

I'm prepared to keep the wine, provided it's in good nick.

Is this a foregone conclusion with weeping? How can I properly establish the weeping is in fact from my bottle (and not something else in the cellar perhaps?)

Thanks in advance!

Is the staining from leakage from that bottle or possible another bottle it was stored with?

IMHO, is their is evidence of leaking from that bottle, it has been misrepresented and I'd send it back for a refund.

Yeah, stained label is one I'm dodgy about, could be nothing, could be knocked about

Here are some pics:-

Hi there,

Personally I would open it and drink it. 14 yo, nice bit of age.

If it is fine, no complaints. If hideous and tainted then have a go at getting some sort of outcome that your happy with.

Auctions carry a large amount of buyer beware if you have not previously delved into the world of the secondary wine market!

A 2000 389 and 6 Lakes Folly 2003 proved that to me quite recently.

Sipper

I dunno..does it appear to be leaking from under the capsule? Looks pretty clean from the pictures..and the fill seems to be ok as well...

It is always hard to say but I would guess that damage is not from that bottle leaking....I would expect to see it coming out from under the capsule if it came out enough to do that to the label...

Cut open the capsule and see what the top of the cork looks like... that will give some indication if it has leaked or just been spilled on / leaked on by a different bottle... its the top of the cork is very mouldy or has a lot of staining I would suggest they should have described the wine differently. If it is clean, then I think 'cellar stained label' is OK and I would just drink the bugger.

sjw_11 wrote:Cut open the capsule and see what the top of the cork looks like... that will give some indication if it has leaked or just been spilled on / leaked on by a different bottle... its the top of the cork is very mouldy or has a lot of staining I would suggest they should have described the wine differently. If it is clean, then I think 'cellar stained label' is OK and I would just drink the bugger.

Great suggestion!

I cut off the foil capsule and there was only a few mm of staining on the bottom end of the cork. The top part was completely dry and intact.

Phew!

One thing I've always wondered, is an exposed cork such as this now at greater risk of leaking?

I was going to say cut the capsule but I doubt you could return it if that was the case....If it doesn't have obvious signs of leaking (which IMO the capsule pictures show it didn't) then I think they described it right...I don't think cutting it and then showing there was some leakage would work quite right..it might've though..

As far as the exposed cork..no...it won't make a difference...might help keep it cleaner but it really doesn't do anything...not as far as I know anyways...

I agree with Polymer - if by sight one cannot tell if there was a leak through the capsule then I don't believe here was misrepresentation. Given the degree of staining on the label I suspect that had it seeped from the cork there would have been ample indication of the seepage at the edge of the capsule - essentially a gummy residue.

Cheers..........................Mahmoud.

I would have expected a description along the lines of stained label. This is not cellar damage IMO, that is perhaps minor splattering, little rips, tears, dirt and grazes etc.

However looks like it is in good condition and no evidence of leakage from around the top of cork is an excellent sign. If it had been leaking then that is a bad sign as can be from poor storage i.e. cork has shrunk from lack of moisture, standing up right or heat. This would likely result in oxygen ingress and oxidisation.

Heat can be critical as could be that the wine has been super heated and expanded beyond the cork! This can happen in a short time frame i.e. days. Fluctuation in daily temperature can expand and contract a cork resulting in the same effect over time i.e. years. Doesn't look like any of these have happened to your bottle. The removal of capsule won't be a problem