FAQ
Grandcru Grapes is built on one idea: I navigate the market so you do not have to, and what I find, I check myself. The questions below cover how I source, check, ship and place wine — mature and young alike.
Do you only sell mature wines?
No. Most of what I offer is mature and ready to drink, chosen for where it is in its development. I also source young wines where access is the point, wines that are scarce before they are mature. Each bottle is described for what it actually is.
How do you check a bottle before it goes out?
Every bottle comes to me before it goes to you. I check the capsule, the fill, the label — any sign of heat or seepage. What shows a problem, I leave. This is not a guarantee: a sealed bottle can look sound and still fall short, and no one sees through glass.
What happens if a bottle turns out to be faulty?
Faults born in the wine itself — cork taint, brettanomyces — sit at the estate and are not mine to promise against; no one can detect them in a sealed bottle. Condition faults, the things I do check, are mine to answer for, and I put them right.
How is this different from buying at auction?
An auction shows you what is there; it does not turn work down on your behalf. I do. Most of what I see does not pass — the vintage is wrong, the price has already caught up, or the fill is not what it should be. What remains, I buy, check, and photograph myself before it reaches you.
How do you ship the wine?
I ship with DHL, in purpose-built wine packaging designed to protect against movement. Standard delivery covers the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Austria. Contact me for other destinations or specific requests.
Can you store wine for me?
On request. Contact me to discuss your situation.
How can I see new arrivals first?
Most of what I find is placed directly, before it appears anywhere online. What is not placed goes to the WhatsApp Group first — a few bottles at a time, never a catalogue. Join the group or follow me on Instagram to see what I find.