Bordeaux

1. Into Neck: Can be level of fill. Perfectly good for wine of any age. Outstanding for a wine of 10 years or more in bottle.
2. Very High Shoulder: Good level for any Bordeaux 10 years or older.
3. High Shoulder: Normal level for any Bordeaux 15 years or older.
4. Mid High 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.
5. Mid Shoulder: Some weakening of the cork, therefore, some risk. Not abnormal for wines over 50 years of age. Estimates take this into account.
6. Low Mid Shoulder: Some risk, low estimates.

Burgundy
Because of the slope of the shoulder it is impractical to describe levels as high shoulder, etc. When appropriate, the level between cork and wine will be measured and catalogued in centimetres. The condition and drinkability of Burgundy appears to be less affected by ullage than its equivalent from Bordeaux. For example, a 5 to 7cm ullage in a 40 year old Burgundy can be considered normal, indeed good for age, 3 to 4cm excellent for age.

Australian Wine
Unfortunately, the above does not apply to the majority of Australian wine. Our experience shows that because of the poor quality of corks used in all but a few, any ullage -that is the level showing below the neck- must be considered a risk in any bottle post-1970. Pre-1970 bottles appear to be less of a risk, particularly when encountered in Penfolds dry red range and Lindemans Hunter River Burgundies, both red and white.