Field Tool · Version 1.0 — 2026
Score the bottle before discussing price. The score tells you how much of the price is evidence — and how much is story.
A bottle can have the right producer, the right vintage and the right format — and still be the wrong bottle if its history cannot be reconstructed. In rare wine, the label states a claim; provenance is the evidence behind it. The scorecard compresses that evidence into a number, so the conversation about price can start from what is documented rather than what is asserted.
A rare bottle without custody is just a story.
| Dimension | What earns the points | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle identity | Label, capsule, cork and glass fully consistent with the producer’s release (5). Minor unverifiable detail (3–4). Any element inconsistent or unverifiable (0–2). | 0–5 |
| Storage | Professional bonded storage since release, warehouse(s) named (5). Professional storage for most of its life, minor gaps explained (3–4). Domestic or unknown storage for meaningful periods (0–2). | 0–5 |
| Custody | Every transfer since release documented; one or two owners (5). Chain reconstructable with small gaps (3–4). Story-based custody, undocumented owners (0–2). | 0–5 |
| Condition | Fill, capsule and label all appropriate for age (3). One cosmetic doubt (2). Condition issues needing explanation (0–1). | 0–3 |
| Release channel | In-bond, warehouse-to-warehouse, physically verified stock (2). Duty-paid but professionally shipped and insured (1). Bottle leaves professional custody unverified (0). | 0–2 |
17–20 — Evidence. The bottle’s history is a record. Price the wine, not the risk.
12–16 — Diligence. Buyable, with questions asked and answers in writing. The gaps should be reflected in the price.
Below 12 — Story. Whatever the label says, you are buying a narrative. Walk away, or price it as the gamble it is.
A perfect score cannot rule out cork taint, which is a bottle-level lottery no custody prevents. And no scorecard replaces physical inspection by someone who knows the producer’s packaging. The score measures evidence, not certainty.
For the questions behind each dimension, use the field checklist in the provenance guide. For the vocabulary, the custody glossary.
This scorecard is an educational tool. It does not authenticate bottles, guarantee condition or constitute investment advice. Version 1.0 — 2026. Free to share with attribution.