For some time now, wine lovers have been observing that empty bottles are probably not only auctioned for decoration purposes on eBay. How else can one explain three to four digit sums for an empty bottle of wine? It seems reasonable to assume that with these expensive empties, the word "recycling" takes on a new meaning. Namely the refilling of the bottles and the resulting deception of the consumer. This approach is also confirmed by Ray Jordan, an Australian wine journalist, who knows of empty 1982 Latour bottles that were bought for 1,000 Australian dollars (about 850 euro) and were re-filled - with cheap wine, of course - and resold as "bargains" to wine collectors in good faith. Achievable price for a real bottle of Latour 1982 in Australia and Hong Kong: 1,450 to 2,500 euro. But this is only one example that shows how much one has to trust the supplier when buying wine.
Whether an expensive wine is genuine% usually only becomes apparent after opening the bottle. |
As my table clearly shows, the absolute "star" among empty bottles is the most famous winery in the world - Château Pétrus from Pomerol. However, at 3,010 euros for an empty bottle of Mouton Rothschild 2000 in the Imperial (6 liters), a Premier Grand Cru of the Left Bank holds a questionable record. The eBay member never responded to my numerous requests and in the meantime is active with hopefully genuine RayBan glasses. Empty wooden crates of famous châteaux also fetch top prices. Yes, wood is expensive!
The price for an empty box is also interesting. The gift box without a bottle of Rémy Martin's cult cognac was knocked down at 121 euros. That someone here owns the full bottle and the combination bottle plus case fetches a much higher price at auction is certain. But let's assume it was meant to be a nice gift. Unfortunately not to me!
Title on eBay | Price (€) | Date of sale | Item number |
---|---|---|---|
Mouton Rothschild 2000 Imperial display bottle 6 L | 3.010,00 | 29.09.2011 | 200652982483 |
1982 Château Pétrus Deco Bottle * 1961 Château Pétrus Deco Bottle | 574,99 | 13.06.2012 | 270994585535 |
1982 Château Pétrus Deco Bottle Double Magnum 3 L | 227,77 | 08.08.2012 | 271029692036 |
Château Mouton Rothschild 2000 0,75 L Dummy | 200,00 | 27.05.2012 | 130699949001 |
Romanée-Conti 1990 | 191,00 | 17.06.2012 | 251083618105 |
1982 Château Pétrus double magnum 3 L | 157,00 | 27.08.2012 | 271040300548 |
1982 Château Pétrus Deco Bottle Magnum 1,5 L | 147,00 | 31.08.2012 | 271042779660 |
Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac Box, gift case, empty | 121,00 | 29.04.2012 | 130683152455 |
Wine box from Château Pétrus 2005 original new famous | 104,00 | 05.05.2012 | 261014402683 |
Ardbeg 17 years !!!! Empty bottle!!! | 101,99 | 02.09.2012 | 160872681111 |