| The
provenance of a wine is a combination of its purchase and storage
history.
When you buy any wine at auction you are taking a
risk that the wine has been carefully handled by the original
owner(s). If the wine has been exposed to excess temperature
variation, for example, then there is a chance that the wine has
become oxidised and lifeless.
Our aim is to minimise your risk by providing you
with essential knowledge and as much information as possible about a
particular wine.
Wickman's will now be grading each lot of wine
based on our ability to obtain this information, thereby increasing
your own ability to assess any bid. Most lots describe the
provenance of that lot and you are encouraged to read it as part of
your buying decision.
 VERIFIED
PROVENANCE (Guaranteed)On lots that
have been marked with this symbol (or in the catalogue with the
words 'Verified"), it means we have taken extra steps to
prove and verify the provenance of this wine and will guarantee
the wines purchasing and storage history. This is exclusive to
Wickman's and not something that is typically offered by other
wine auctions.
It generally means that this wine is from a
reputable wine collector and we have verified his or her claims
of purchasing and storage history by either visually sighting
documentation and inspecting the cellaring site and sometimes by
even sampling random vintages and bottles from the collection. |
 CHECKED
PROVENANCEOn lots that have been
marked with this symbol (or in the catalogue with the words 'Checked"),
it means we have taken steps to discover the provenance of this
wine but have not verified it through documentation or other
means. This is generally the most that is offered at other wine
auctions.
Whilst the owner of this wine has informed us
where it has been purchased and how it has been stored we have
not gone through our process of verifying the validity of the
claims. |
| NO
SYMBOL (CAVEAT EMPTOR) On lots that have no
markings, it does not necessary mean that there is any problem
with this wine, it just means that we have been unable to
discover the wines previous owner, perhaps because it was
purchased previously at auction or that it was given as a gift
or prize. |
WARNING
The best handling and storage in
the world cannot prevent faults from entering a wine at bottling
time and it is possible that the wine you purchase at auction (or
from the winery or a retailer for that matter) contains cork taint,
Mercaptan, random oxidation or something unpleasant that may affect
your enjoyment of the wine.
Whilst we make every effort to
discover the provenance of a wine, we cannot guarantee the
wine in the bottle you purchase. |
