1. Into Neck: normal fill. Level of young wines. Exceptionally good in wines over 10 years old.
2. Bottom Neck: can be level of fill. Perfectly good for any age of wine. Outstandingly good for a wine of 10 years in bottle or longer.
3. Upper-Shoulder: slight natural reduction through easing of cork and capsule. Usually no problem. Acceptable for any wine over 20 years old. Exceptional for pre-1940 wines.
4. Mid-Shoulder: probably some weakening of the cork and some risk. Not abnormal for wines 30/40 years of age.
5. Low-Shoulder: risky and usually only acceptable for sale if wine or label are exceptionally rare or interesting.
6. Below Low-Shoulder: not acceptable for sale unless a rare sort of bottle. Wine will usually be undrinkable.

Because of the slope of shoulder it is impractical to describe levels of mid-shoulder, etc. Whenever appropriate the level between cork and wine will be measured and inventoried in centimeters.

The condition and drinkability of burgundy is less affected by ullage than its equivilent from bordeaux. For example, a 5 to 7 cm ullage in a 50 year old burgundy can be considered normal, indeed good for age, 3.5 to 4 cm. excellent for age, even 7 cm rarely a risk.