Just how sensitive is a bottle of wine?

[hotwine]

Sharon, to answer the last question first... wines are very sensitive to their storage conditions, if those conditions include temperature variations of more than about 10 degrees. Or strong light. Or vibrations from shakey floors or nearby equipment. Suggest you place your wines in a cool dark closet, and drink them over the next 6-12 months.

As to buying wines at auction: I don't, precisely for the question you raised, which is commonly called "provenance".... their backgrounds can't be "proven" with certainty.

In general, I'd let any of those wines rest for at least a week before opening. Then watch for sediment (in the case of reds).