Useful terms
Buying & Selling
Some of the most used terms when buying and selling with LANGTONS.
- Lot
- A single or multiple items sold as a single unit for one price. A lot can include varying number of bottles and in some cases different types of wine.
- Estimate per Bottle
- Expected price range that a lot is expected to fetch for. This is based on historical sales data and is provided as a guide to help with your bidding.
- Bid
- Placing a bid is making an offer for a determined amount of money for a specific lot during an auction. All bids with LANGTONS are per bottle (except set or barrels).
- Current Bid
- Is the highest bid for a lot in real time.
- Auto Bid
- Allows you to enter your maximum price when bidding on a lot. This ensures that you are the highest bidder until your maximum prices has been reached.
- Passed In
- A lot will be 'Passed In' when it doesn't reach its vendor reserve.
- Reserve
- The Reserve is the minimum price at which the lot will be sold. Reserves are confidential and not published.
- Buyers Premium
- The Buyer's Premium is LANGTONS charge on the wine you buy. 18% incl. GST. It is added to all successful bids at the close of an auction. You only pay the Buyer's Premium if you are the successful bidder.
- Vendor Commission
- The amount paid by the seller to LANGTONS on the sale of wine through LANGTONS.
- Hammer Price
- The Price successfully bid for and to be paid by the buyer for a lot sold at auction.
- Auto Shipping
- LANGTONS will ship your auction winnings the next business day after the auction closes.
- Consolidated Shipping
- LANGTONS will automatically ship your auction winnings every 21 days with a single charge per delivery.
- Storage
- Store your wine with LANGTONS at the price of $0.40 per bottle per month.
Ullage
Sometimes described as the 'fill level', ullage is the term used to describe the level of wine in a bottle and is one way of assessing the condition of a wine.
The loss of wine from a bottle happens through evaporation and occurs naturally over time. The ullage level of a bottle can give insight as to the type of care and storage condition that the wine has been kept in.
The following represent wine fill levels for Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Penfolds Grange and similar bottles.
- 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.
Ullage - other regions
The definitions below apply to Burgundy, Rhone, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and wines in similar bottles.
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.
- 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.
Common Bottle sizes and descriptions
| Name | Description | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Half Bottle | Equals half a 'regular' bottle | 375 ml |
| Bottle | A 'regular' bottle | 750 ml |
| Magnum | Equals 2 bottles | 1,500 ml |
| Marie-Jeanne (Bordeaux) | Equals 3 bottles | 2,250 ml |
| Tregnum (Bordeaux) | Equals 3 bottles | 2,250 ml |
| Double Magnum | Equals 4 bottles | 3,000 ml |
| Jeroboam (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 4 bottles | 3,000 ml |
| Jeroboam (Bordeaux) | Equals 6 bottles | 4,500 ml |
| Rehoboam (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 6 bottles | 4,500 ml |
| Imperial (Bordeaux) | Equals 8 bottles | 6,000 ml |
| Methuselah (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 8 bottles | 6,000 ml |
| Salmanazar (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 12 bottles | 9,000 ml |
| Balthazar (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 16 bottles | 12,000 ml |
| Double Imperial (Bordeaux) | Equals 16 bottles | 12,000 ml |
| Nebuchadnezzar (Sparkling/Burgundy) | Equals 20 bottles | 16,000 ml |
Wine Labels
The condition of a wine/s label is taken into consideration in determining value. LANGTONS makes every effort to describe in detail the conditions of labels.
The condition of wine bottle labels are referenced in the following way:
- Minor Label Damage
- Describes labels that have small marks, scuffing or a slight tear.
- Damaged Label
- All other imperfections such as large nicks, tears, scrapes
- Badly Damaged Label
- Only used to describe extreme problems such as major portions of label damaged or missing, or the label is unreadable etc.
Wine Closures
Wines under cork typically have a sleeve or capsule covering the top of the bottle. Not only is it a decorative element of a bottle's label it adds a level of protection to the cork underneath.
- Wax capsule
- The original capsule is wax, not metal or plastic. Wax capsules are quite common on larger format bottles.
- 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.
- Missing Capsule
- There is no capsule in place. Wines without an original capsule but with a branded cork may be sold,
Wine Closures - Conditions
Like wine bottle labels, the condition of the capsule is also taken into consideration when determining value. LANGTONS makes every effort to describe in detail the conditions of labels.
The condition of wine bottle capsules and closures are referenced in the following way:
- Minor Capsule Damage
- Generally small nicks, tears, scrapes
- Damaged Capsule
- Describes capsule/s soiled or damaged by dust, dirt, humidity or water
- Badly Damaged capsule
- Only used to describe extreme problems such as major portion of the capsule damaged or missing etc
Packaging Descriptions
- Original Case
- Wines that are packed in their original case in which they were packaged at the winery
- Original presentation box
- Wines that are packed in their original cardboard presentation boxes
- Original timber case
- Wines that are packed in their original timber cases
Penfolds Recorking Clinics
Penfolds 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 LANGTONS 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. LANGTONS will not sell any wine that has failed to meet Clinic standards. We advise clients to never buy Penfolds Grange without a company capsule.
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 LANGTONS Fine Wine Auctions.
Jimmy Watson Trophy
This prestigious award is given to the producer of the best one-year-old dry red wine in the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.