Yesterday was the second time that sellers with WB Board members’ approvals in the NY NJ CT area shipped me older bottles someone badly botched while attempting to mask seepage and/or pushed up corks. This time a photo was sent showing the base neck fill of a 1985 Lynch Bages taken from below the capsule, so the badly wrinkled and poorly smoothed over pushed down capsule did not show. When I heard the jerk on the phone tell me he was looking at the photo of a good looking bottle sent to me in advance for my approval, I sent them four close up photos of the capsule. They responded with decision to send me a return Fed Ex label and nothing else about the bottle.
Previously, another seller sent three 1964 Cheval Blanc bottles which had leaked and the bottles had almost been wiped clean, but not near the capsule!?! There were obvious remains of seepage encrusted under the capsules and on the bottles just below the capsule. the owner repeatedly and emphatically admitted to his incompetence by insisting his company did not clean up the bottles = they bought three expensive bottles without professionally inspecting. Duh! He got pissed when I pointed that logic out to him. He sent me a return label. A few weeks later, he actually charged my card for the return shipment to this so called “Cellar” specialist.
Lesson for all, be careful and inspect your purchases as there are incompetent and/or deceitful sellers to deal with out there even though vouched for by other Berserkers.
These two sellers either did not inspect the wines they purchased carefully, or bought bought damaged bottles and tried to mask the problems and then sell them to inexperienced, or unsuspecting buyers.
Either they wallow in the muck next to Rudy and Hardy, or are negligent buyers and sellers.
I’m sorry you got what certainly appear to be poor condition bottles between the leakage and cork being pushed up. I would send those back for sure.
My question tho is what is a “WB approved seller”? I’m not thinking this is a Berserker Business. If a private party I’m not aware of any sellers or buyers that WB has “approved”. Maybe I’m missing something or you are just understandably upset and venting. I’m not active in this corner so could be I am missing something fundamental here, hence my query.
That’s frustrating… Similar thing happened to me when I purchased a case of Allemand at a major auction house. All that was mentioned were some relatively minor label issues.
This was one of the bottles:
They refunded me for the bottle and sent me a return label, but I can’t say I was very happy about it. Inspect your bottles!!
Richard - I can’t speak to all the evidence based on your photos, but the corrosion on the capsules may not be a sign of seepage. Lead capsules (which were banned around 1990) often corroded a bit at the bottom edge, on even the most pristine, well-stored bottles. It could be due to a little spillage from the bottling equipment, or just moisture from a humid cellar at the time of bottling.
(FYI, with lead capsules, the FDA advised to wipe the rim well with a wet paper towel after you remove the capsule, to get rid of lead residue on the lip.)
I know first hand what you are referencing having sold thousands of bottles from the 1920’s and up for nearly 40 years. Damp cellars did corrode capsules frequently white. I have seen lots of the white powdery corrosions as well. However, if you look carefully at the first photo of the Cheval, in the light reflection you can see the smudged wine stain going down the bottle. It is more clear in the image in my phone.
