Condition issues which may affect your spirits or wine valuation
These are the various condition issues which can affect the offer we have made for your collection. Please see below for more detail.
If you send us photos of your bottles in advance, we will do our best to take any possible issues into account, but it’s worth noting that not all issues are identifiable without a hands-on inspection.
Bin soiled
We are looking for bottles in pristine condition with no scuffs or marks. When the label is damaged it means a number of our retail customers wouldn’t buy the bottle, as they like to ensure they have perfect-looking bottles on their shelves. In older bottles, some damage is to be expected but, in all cases, the greater the damage, the greater the impact to the value of your bottles. Where this damage affects the ability to confirm the bottle is what we’re expecting – for example the name or vintage is illegible – this would likely mean a significant reduction in the price, and we may have to cut the capsule to make this confirmation. In some instances, this may mean we would not be able to buy these bottles at all.
Cork issues (raised, sunk, soft, fallen in)
Cork issues indicate that the wine is more likely to be faulty.
If the cork is raised it could indicate that the wine has been exposed to too high temperatures. This can result in the bright, fruit characteristics turning to cooked and unpleasant flavours, and severely impacts the longevity of the wine.
If the cork has sunk down it could indicate that the wine has been exposed to very low temperatures or has been stood upright for too long, and the cork has become shrivelled. This prevents it from forming a complete seal with the bottle, meaning more wine evaporates the remaining wine becomes oxidised. With very shrivelled corks there is the risk that it will simply drop into the bottle when it is stood upright.
If the cork is soft it means the cork is degrading and it could indicate that that the bottle has been exposed to fluctuating temperatures during storage. Soft corks are not able to form a complete seal with the bottle meaning the wine is more likely to be exposed to the air or evaporate and become oxidised.
Whether we can buy bottles with cork issues will depend on how badly they have deteriorated. If we can buy them, it would usually mean a reduction in price because we would only be able to offer these bottles to a small pool of clients who sometimes like to take a risk on a bottle like this for a reduced price.
Corroded capsule
We are looking for bottles in pristine condition with no damage or corrosion to the capsule. When the closure is damaged it means a number of our customers wouldn’t buy the bottle, because it could mean the seal has been compromised and oxidation may have occurred, and because they like to ensure they have perfect-looking bottles on their shelves. We would likely have to reduce our offer for these bottles. In some instances, this may mean we would not be able to buy these bottles at all.
Damage to capsule or wax covering
We are looking for bottles in pristine condition with no damage to the capsule or wax. When the closure is damaged it means a number of our customers wouldn’t buy the bottle, because it could mean the seal has been compromised and oxidation may have occurred, and because they like to ensure they have perfect-looking bottles on their shelves. We would likely have to reduce our offer for these bottles. In some instances, this may mean we would not be able to buy these bottles at all.
Format error – bottle size or OWC/OCC
In the case we receive a different size bottle or a different case format from the one we’re expecting, this will affect our offer. We will simply revise the offer to reflect the new size or format.
If we’re expecting a case, we’re looking for this to be the original wooden or cardboard case – as it was released. These original cases do affect the value and if the case is missing, the bottles are then considered individual loose bottles rather than a complete case. Similarly, a case must be full with the correct number of bottles otherwise this would be considered an incomplete case. For example 6 bottles in an original case that was made to hold 12 bottles would not count as a complete case, but would be valued as loose bottles. We will be able to purchase these but there will be a reduction in the price.
Leaks
Bottles which show any sign of leaking we would not be able to purchase because it is a clear sign that the wine has been exposed to oxygen and is no longer drinkable. In the case of Port wine it can be acceptable for older ports to have a small amount of staining around the capsule, however this should be minimal (perhaps a couple of the bottles from a dozen). Please check that your bottles are not damp/sticky around the corks, and that you cannot smell the port on the outside of the bottle prior to collection/shipping.
No box
We are looking for spirits in pristine condition with all the original packaging. The packaging does hold a significant value for spirits. If we receive a spirit without its original packaging we would have to reduce our offer. Damaged packing may also result in a reduced offer.
Oxidation
For white and sparkling wines, we are looking for the colour to be bright and clear. If it is darker yellow/brown and murky, then that would indicate that the wine has been damaged by light, heat, or exposure to oxygen. This can be more clearly seen when held up to a white or natural light and is particularly evident when placed in our specialist light box. Oxidised wines are not usually drinkable so we would not be able to put these bottles on our list. In some cases, we may still be able to offer these bottles to a small pool of clients who sometimes like to take a risk on a bottle like this for a reduced price. We may not be able to buy these bottles at all.
Ullage / Low Levels
Wine can evaporate from a bottle if it is not stored properly. This can occur if the bottle is stored upright for too long and the cork dries out, or if it is stored in variable temperature conditions. If the level has dropped too much it is likely that the wine has had too much exposure to oxygen, reducing the drinkability and value of the wine.
We would expect very old bottles to have undergone a certain amount of evaporation, but please see the image below for examples of different levels. These would be labelled: Good, Very Top Shoulder, Top Shoulder, Mid Shoulder, Low Shoulder, and prices would be reflected accordingly. Wines with a level lower than this we would be unlikely to be able to purchase.
Woodworm
If your case shows signs of woodworm then we will not be able to put it into our cellar, as it could spread to other cases. We would therefore need to destroy the case, and to purchase the bottles as individual loose bottles rather than a complete case. Loose bottles are usually valued slightly lower than case equivalents because the original packaging does increase the value of the product. We will be able to purchase these but there will be a reduction in the price.
Wrong wine
In the case we receive a bottle which is not the one we were expecting, this is likely to affect our offer because all wines and spirits have different values. In this case we will simply revise our offer for you.
If you have any questions regarding the condition of your wine or spirits, or about the next steps, please contact the team, reply to your revised offer email you have received, or email us on wine@thelondonwinecellar.com. Please quote your OPP number so that we can help you as quickly as possible.
Strip labels
A strip label gives insight into where a bottle has travelled in its lifetime. Certain locations ( typically outside of the EU ) can make a bottle harder to sell, as an onward purchaser can’t be sure of the conditions under which it has travelled – it can be a long, hot voyage, which would impact how the wine tastes and ages – so this must be reflected in the price.
