Bottling is the stage at which finished wine is transferred into bottles, sealed and labelled. It marks the end of élevage and the start of bottle age. Timing matters: bottling too early can trap unfinished wine, too late risks oxidation. Wines may be filtered or fined beforehand for stability, or bottled unfiltered for texture. Estate bottling, done at the property, signals control and authenticity.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR COLLECTORS
'Mise en bouteille au château/domaine' on a label means estate-bottled — the grower controlled the wine to the end, generally a quality marker over wines bottled by a négociant or merchant.
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