Bottle Variation

Bottle variation is where two seemingly identical bottles of wine taste different. The causes can vary but the main reasons include: different blends going into the same type of bottle; the bottles are stored in different conditions, e.g. at different temperatures and different humidity levels; the wine in one bottle may have a fault due to poor hygiene; if sealed under a cork the oxygen transfer through the cork may vary considerably causing differences; or the cork in one bottle may be tainted causing the wine to be corked.