The history of a wine bottle – at a glance
high fill: normal fill. Level of young wines. Exceptionally good in wines over 10 years old.
into neck: can be level of fill. Perfectly good for any age of wine. Outstandingly good for a wine of 10 years in bottle.
top-shoulder: normal level for any claret 15 years old or older.
upper-shoulder: slight natural reduction through easing of cork and evaporation through cork and capsule.
Usually no problem. Acceptable for any wine over 20 years old. Exceptional for pre-1940 wines.
mid-shoulder: probably some weakening of the cork and some risk. Not abnormal for wines 30/40 years of age. Estimates usually take this into account.
Lower-mid-shoulder: some risk. Low estimates, usually no reserve.
Low-shoulder: risky and usually only accepted for sale if wine or label exceptionally rare or interesting. Always
offered without reserve and low estimate.
Below low-shoulder: not acceptable for sale unless a rare sort of bottle. Wine will usually be undrinkable.
