Rare Krug Champagne Turns Hong Kong Date Into HK$84,000 Scam

A bottle of Krug Clos d’Ambonnay 2002 — one of the world’s rarest Champagnes — turned a candlelit dinner in Hong Kong’s Central district into an HK$84,000 (US$10,760) nightmare, after the man who ordered it vanished mid-date and left his companion with the bill at the Mandarin Oriental’s Michelin-starred Man Wah.

According to police, a report was filed at 10 p.m. on August 28. The complainant said she was dining with a man she had met online when he excused himself to use the restroom and never returned, leaving her to cover the entire bill.

Sources said the victim, a 31-year-old woman surnamed Chan, had earlier met the man through Telegram. He reportedly introduced himself as a 26- or 27-year-old lawyer. The two hit it off and agreed to meet for dinner last Thursday at the Mandarin Oriental’s Michelin-starred restaurant Man Wah.

The bill shows they ordered a HK$4,776 two-person set menu, a pot of 10-year Pu’er tea, and a bottle of Krug Clos d’Ambonnay 2002, valued at HK$71,800. Including service charges, the total came to HK$84,453.60.

Krug Clos d’Ambonnay is considered the rarest and most expensive in the Krug Champagne collection. It comes from a 0.68-hectare walled vineyard in Ambonnay Grand Cru, made from 100% Pinot Noir and a single vintage under the philosophy of “one vineyard, one grape, one year.” Only six vintages have ever been released — 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2006 — in extremely limited quantities. The 2002 vintage sells for an average of US$3,502 worldwide; in Hong Kong, retailer Solera Fine Wines & Spirits lists it for HK$23,000 per bottle.

Local media reported that the man had chosen the champagne himself and left the table near the end of the meal. It remains unclear whether his disappearance was spontaneous or premeditated. The woman eventually settled the bill with help from friends, later suspecting she had been scammed and contacted police.

Initially, authorities classified the case as “fraud.” The woman later asked that it be recorded only, and the case was reclassified as “request for police assistance.” However, by Friday evening, police arrested a 23-year-old local man surnamed Wong in Tseung Kwan O, on suspicion of obtaining property by deception. Officers also seized the clothes he had worn that night. As of Saturday, he remained in custody for questioning.

The Mandarin Oriental said in response to local media inquiries that the matter had been handed over to the police and the hotel was fully cooperating with the investigation, while declining to provide further details out of respect for guest and staff privacy.