- Ullage
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Ullage is the term used to describe the fill level of wine in a bottle. It is one way of assessing the condition of a wine. The loss of wine from a bottle because of evaporation is a natural occurrence in wine and occurs over time. Langton's makes every effort to describe accurately the ullage of each bottle entered into a sale.
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If a fill level is not indicated, it means that the bottle has a fill level that is better than base of neck. Langton's does not generally differentiate between levels that are in the neck as that difference can be due to variations in fills at the time of bottling. We consider anything that is in the neck to be a perfect fill level for any bottle of any age.
- Bordeaux-style bottle
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The following definitions apply to Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Penfolds Grange and wines in similar bottles.
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- Base of Neck
- Indicates a very minimal reduction of wine due to evaporation. An excellent level for any wine 10 years or older.
- Just Below Base of Neck
- Indicates a minimal reduction of wine due to evaporation. A very good level in any wine 15 years or older.
- Very high shoulder
- Indicates a very slight natural reduction of wine due to evaporation through the cork and capsule. A good level in any wine 15 years or older.
- High shoulder
- Normal level for any Bordeaux 20 years or older.
- Mid-high shoulder
- Indicates a natural reduction through easing of the cork and evaporation through cork and capsule. Buyers should inspect the wine or obtain a condition report.
- Mid-shoulder
- Indicates some weakening of the cork and therefore risk of oxidation. This is not unusual in wines over 50 years old and estimates will take this into account. Bottles of wine from more important, older vintages can be attractive as curios in a collector's cellar.
- Low-mid shoulder
- Indicates high risk of oxidation and will attract low estimates.
- Burgundy-style bottle & Riesling-style bottle
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The definitions below apply to Burgundy, Rhone, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and wines in similar bottles.
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Burgundy and Riesling-style bottles cannot be measured in the same manner as Bordeaux-style bottles because of the slope of the bottle's shoulder. As a result, fill levels for Burgundy and Riesling bottles are measured in centimetres by looking at the space between the base of the cork and the wine.
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- 2cm or less is considered excellent fill for any age and a fill level does not need to be mentioned.
- 3cm or better is a perfectly normal fill for wines aged 10 years or older. It is an excellent level for wines aged 25 years or older.
- 4cm is considered normal fill for wines aged 15 years or older and excellent for wine aged 35 years or older. However, it would be cause for concern in wines aged 15 years or younger.
- 5cm is not uncommon in older wines of 30 years or older. Some risk is involved at this level.
- 6cm or more is a poor fill level for any wine, unless the wine is extremely rare.
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For example an ullage of 5-7cm in a 40-year-old Burgundy could be considered normal or, indeed, good for age. An ullage of 3-4 cm could be excellent for age.
- Bottle descriptions
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| Half Bottle equal to half a 'regular' bottle |
375 ml |
| Bottle a 'regular' bottle |
750 ml |
| Magnum equal to 2 bottles |
1,500 ml |
| Marie-Jeanne (Bordeaux) equal to 3 bottles |
2,250 ml |
| Tregnum (Bordeaux) equal to 3 bottles |
2,250 ml |
| Double Magnum equal to 4 bottles |
3,000 ml |
| Jeroboam (Sparkling/Burgundy) equal to 4 bottles |
3,000 ml |
| Jeroboam (Bordeaux) equal to 6 bottles |
4,500 ml |
| Rehoboam (Sparkling/Burgundy) equal to 6 bottles |
4,500 ml |
| Imperial (Bordeaux) equal to 8 bottles |
6,000 ml |
| Methuselah (Sparkling/Burgundy) equal to 8 bottles |
6,000 ml |
| Salmanazar (Sparkling/Burgundy) equal to 12 bottles |
9,000 ml |
| Balthazar (Sparkling/Burgundy) equal to 16 bottles |
12,000 ml |
| Double Imperial (Bordeaux) equal to 16 bottles |
12,000 ml |
| Nebuchadnezzar (Sparkling/Burgundy) equal to 20 bottles |
16,000 ml |
- Labels and Capsules
- Minor label damage and minor capsule damage – generally small nicks, tears, scrapes etc. which will affect the price. Describes labels that have small marks, scuffing or a slight tear.
- Damaged label/s and damaged capsule/s – all other imperfections such as large nicks, tears, scrapes etc. unless the label is ‘Badly’ damaged. Describes labels and capsules soiled or damaged by dust, dirt, humidity or water and/or labels that are partially torn.
- Badly Damaged label/s and Badly Damaged capsule/s – only used to describe extreme problems. Such as major portions of label or capsule damaged or missing, can’t read label etc.
- Describes labels capsules that have been severely damaged by dirt, humidity or water and/or labels that have been badly torn. The condition of a wine's label is taken into consideration in determining value. Langton's makes every effort to describe in detail the conditions of labels.
- Missing capsule
- There is no capsule in place. Wines without an original capsule, but with a branded cork may be sold.
- Screw cap
- An alternative wine closure that consists of a metal cap that screws onto threads located on the neck of a bottle.
- Vinlock (Vino-Seal)
- A glass stopper closure with a plastic seal.
- Wax capsule
- The original capsule is wax, not metal or plastic. Wax capsules are quite common on larger format bottles.
- Henschke Quality Assurance Program
- This is an in-house re-corking program for old bottles of Henschke red wines still owned by C. A. Henschke & Co. The program was conducted by Henschke and Langton's Fine Wine Auctions and is similar in concept to the Penfolds re-corking program.
- Jimmy Watson Trophy
- The wine was awarded the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Melbourne Wine Show. The award is given to the producer of the best one-year-old dry red wine in the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
- Jimmy Watson Trophy Winners
- Vintage (year of award is a year later to vintage)
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| 1961 |
STONEYFELL CABERNET-SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY |
| 1962 |
HARDY’S RESERVE BIN C404 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MCLAREN VALE |
| 1963 |
PENFOLDS BIN 64 KALIMNA CABERNET SAUVIGNON |
| 1964 |
SEPPELT HERMITAGE, GREAT WESTERN |
| 1965 |
PENFOLDS BIN 95 GRANGE HERMITAGE |
| 1966 |
SALTRAM CABERNET-SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY |
| 1967 |
PENFOLDS BIN 95 GRANGE HERMITAGE |
| 1968 |
D’ARENBERG CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MCLAREN VALE |
| 1969 |
BASEDOWS BIN 15 CABERNET/SHIRAZ, SOUTH AUSTRALIA |
| 1970 |
ORLANDO CABERNET SAUVIGNON, BAROSSA VALLEY |
| 1971 |
SEPPELT DORRIEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON |
| 1972 |
BERRI ESTATE, CABERNET SAUVIGNON |
| 1973 |
WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL, DRY RED |
| 1974 |
WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL, DRY RED |
| 1975 |
WOLF BLASS, BLACK LABEL, DRY RED |
| 1976 |
WYNNS CABERNET SAUVIGNON, COONAWARRA |
| 1977 |
CHATEAU YARINYA CABERNET SAUVIGNON, YARRA VALLEY |
| 1978 |
ORLANDO CABERNET SAUVIGNON, BAROSSA VALLEY |
| 1979 |
KRONDORF BURGE & WILSON, CABERNET SAUVIGNON |
| 1980 |
LINDEMANS ‘ST GEORGE’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON, COONAWARRA |
| 1981 |
MILDARA CABERNET-SHIRAZ, COONAWARRA |
| 1982 |
CAPE MENTELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MARGARET RIVER |
| 1983 |
CAPE MENTELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MARGARET RIVER |
| 1984 |
HOLLICKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON, COONAWARRA |
| 1985 |
LINDEMANS ‘PYRUS’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON, COONAWARRA |
| 1986 |
RIDDOCH CABERNET-SHIRAZ, COONAWARRA |
| 1987 |
HARDY’S CABERNET SAUVIGNON, PADTHAWAY |
| 1988 |
MILDARA ‘JAMIESON’S RUN’ DRY RED, COONAWARRA |
| 1989 |
PETER LEHMANN SHIRAZ, BAROSSA VALLEY |
| 1990 |
MITCHELTON ‘PRINT LABEL’ SHIRAZ, GOULBURN VALLEY |
| 1991 |
SEPPELT ‘HARPERS RANGE’ CABERNET-MALBEC |
| 1992 |
ELDERTON CABERNET SAUVIGNON, BAROSSA VALLEY |
| 1993 |
ROUGE HOMME ‘RICHARDSON’S RED BLOCK’, COONAWARRA |
| 1994 |
LEASINGHAM ‘CLASSIC CLARE’ SHIRAZ |
| 1995 |
HARDY’S ‘EILEEN HARDY’ SHIRAZ |
| 1996 |
DE BORTOLI ‘GS’ SHIRAZ, YARRA VALLEY |
| 1997 |
KATNOOK ESTATE ‘PRODIGY’ SHIRAZ, COONAWARRA |
| 1998 |
WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL DRY RED |
| 1999 |
PUNTERS CORNER ‘SPARTACUS’ RESERVE SHIRAZ, COONAWARRA |
| 2000 |
PEPPER TREE WINES GRANDE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON, COONAWARRA |
| 2001 |
ROSEMOUNT ‘TRADITIONAL’ CAB SAUV/MERLOT/PETIT VERDOT |
| 2002 |
SALTRAM ‘THE EIGHTH MAKER’ SHIRAZ |
| 2003 |
CASELLA ESTATE ‘YELLOWTAIL’ PREMIUM CAB SAUV |
| 2004 |
GEOFF MERRILL ‘RESERVE’ SHIRAZ, MCLAREN VALE |
| 2005 |
SHINGLEBACK ‘D BLOCK’ RESERVE CAB SAUV, MCLAREN VALE |
| 2006 |
SCARPANTONI ‘BROTHERS BLOCK’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MCLAREN VALE |
| 2007 |
Flametree Wines: Flametree Cabernet Merlot |
| 2008 |
Eden Road Wines: ‘Long Road’ Shiraz Hilltops |
| 2009 |
Joseph River Estate Cabernet |
- Langton's Classification of Australian Wine
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- Exceptional
- The most highly sought after and prized Australian wines on the market.
- Outstanding
- 'Super seconds' of the Australian wine market. Benchmark quality wines with a very strong market following.
- Excellent
- High performing wines of exquisite quality with moderate to strong market following.
- Distinguished
- Secondary market staples or emerging classics.
- Original presentation box
- Some wines are packed in timber or cardboard presentation boxes – for example Henschke Hill of Grace.
- Original timber case
- Some wines are packed in timber cases – for example Penfolds Grange (since 1987), Jim Barry's The Armagh, Penfolds Grange magnums, Howard Park etc. Collectors find these lots highly attractive.
- Penfolds Red Wine Clinic
- Penfolds red wines that are 15 years and older may be assessed, topped up, re-corked and re-capsuled at bi-annual wine clinics held in state capitals in conjunction with Langton's Fine Wine Auctions. Bottles in acceptable condition are given back labels signed by a Penfolds winemaker certifying that the wine has been topped up and re-corked under proper supervision. Langton's will not sell any wine that has failed to meet Clinic standards. We advise clients to never buy Penfolds Grange without a company capsule.
- PI = Passed In
- A lot is passed in when a wine does not reach its vendor reserve.
- Provenance & storage conditions
- The provenance of a wine sets out the history of the bottle and a description of the condition of the wine. Langton's makes every effort to determine the provenance of each wine entered into our auctions. If you require more information about a particular lot, please contact us. It is usually the case that storing wine in a warmer climate increases the risk of damage.
- Signed by winemaker
- This indicates the label has been signed by the winemaker – for example Max Schubert (Penfolds Grange), Phillip Jones (Bass Phillip), Rick Kinzbrunner (Giaconda).
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