Bordeaux Style Bottles
Into Neck: Normal fill level for younger wines. In wines over 10 years of age, this level suggests excellent provenance. Fill levels that are into the neck are rarely noted, except to emphasize a particularly good fill level when other fill levels in the same lot are less than perfect.
Base Neck: A common fill level at which many producers release their wine. For wines of any age, this level suggests excellent provenance.
Very Top Shoulder: Acceptable fill level for wines 8 or more years of age. Suggests proper storage conditions throughout its life. Natural occurrence for wines of this age.
Top Shoulder: Acceptable fill level for wines 15 or more years of age. Suggests proper storage conditions throughout its life.
High Shoulder: Usually not a problem for wines in excess of 20 years of age This level may be caused by easing of the cork combined with natural evaporation. Check the clarity and color of the wine while in the bottle as a secondary indication of provenance.
Mid Shoulder: May suggest ullage during the life of the wine due to either easing of the cork or inconstant storage conditions - not abnormal for wines 30 years or more of age. Definitely inspect clarity and color of the wine while in the bottle, as well as condition of the cork as additional indicators of risk.
Low Shoulder and Below: Suggests poor provenance. Definitely a risk and generally not sellable, with exceptions given to rare bottlings and/or labels. Not recommended for drinking.
Burgundian Style Bottles
Because the shape of Burgundian style bottles does not allow for a level rating system based on the shoulder of the bottle, levels are described by means of centimeters below the cork. Generally, wines with a 3 centimeter fill level or above are considered normal for wines younger than 10 years of age. Wines of 15 or more years of age with fill levels between 3 and 5 centimeters are generally considered to be sound provenance, though consideration should be given to clarity and color of the wine in the bottle, as well as condition of the cork. Burgundy bottles with fill levels below 7 centimeters are at high risk of being damaged or undrinkable, and therefore most likely unsaleable.
Additional Notes It should be noted that some producers tend to over-fill their bottles during the bottling process, which may cause a few drops of wine to become trapped between the cork and the capsule. this is not a sign of a faulty cork, nor of ullage. Please be aware however that ullage is a natural occurrence in older wines, which may be accelerated due to poor provenance. Though every effort is made to accurately describe older vintage wines, corks over 20 years old begin to lose their elasticity and levels can change between cataloguing and sale. Old corks have also been known to fall during or after shipment.
Into Neck: Normal fill level for younger wines. In wines over 10 years of age, this level suggests excellent provenance. Fill levels that are into the neck are rarely noted, except to emphasize a particularly good fill level when other fill levels in the same lot are less than perfect.
Base Neck: A common fill level at which many producers release their wine. For wines of any age, this level suggests excellent provenance.
Very Top Shoulder: Acceptable fill level for wines 8 or more years of age. Suggests proper storage conditions throughout its life. Natural occurrence for wines of this age.
Top Shoulder: Acceptable fill level for wines 15 or more years of age. Suggests proper storage conditions throughout its life.
High Shoulder: Usually not a problem for wines in excess of 20 years of age This level may be caused by easing of the cork combined with natural evaporation. Check the clarity and color of the wine while in the bottle as a secondary indication of provenance.
Mid Shoulder: May suggest ullage during the life of the wine due to either easing of the cork or inconstant storage conditions - not abnormal for wines 30 years or more of age. Definitely inspect clarity and color of the wine while in the bottle, as well as condition of the cork as additional indicators of risk.
Low Shoulder and Below: Suggests poor provenance. Definitely a risk and generally not sellable, with exceptions given to rare bottlings and/or labels. Not recommended for drinking.
Burgundian Style Bottles
Because the shape of Burgundian style bottles does not allow for a level rating system based on the shoulder of the bottle, levels are described by means of centimeters below the cork. Generally, wines with a 3 centimeter fill level or above are considered normal for wines younger than 10 years of age. Wines of 15 or more years of age with fill levels between 3 and 5 centimeters are generally considered to be sound provenance, though consideration should be given to clarity and color of the wine in the bottle, as well as condition of the cork. Burgundy bottles with fill levels below 7 centimeters are at high risk of being damaged or undrinkable, and therefore most likely unsaleable.
Additional Notes It should be noted that some producers tend to over-fill their bottles during the bottling process, which may cause a few drops of wine to become trapped between the cork and the capsule. this is not a sign of a faulty cork, nor of ullage. Please be aware however that ullage is a natural occurrence in older wines, which may be accelerated due to poor provenance. Though every effort is made to accurately describe older vintage wines, corks over 20 years old begin to lose their elasticity and levels can change between cataloguing and sale. Old corks have also been known to fall during or after shipment.