How to Decant Aged Wine
Those who believe that decanting wine is just for show aren't wrong, just simply misinformed. Depending on how you decant your wine, it can be a big production involving two people and candles or it can be a single-act show involving you and a decanter. The show isn't the reason for decanting wine, just a happy by-product. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Learn about decanters. Decanters are basically fancy pitchers with a narrow neck and wide base. Inexpensive carafes work just as well.
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Know the main reasons for decanting. Aged wines are decanted because of the sediment in the wine bottle. You could call them floaties if you prefer. They look bad and taste worse. Decanting prevents sediment form reaching anyone's wine glass.
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Remove the foil from the neck of the bottle. This means all the foil, not just the foil around the lip of the bottle. This is done so you can see the sediment as you are pouring the wine into the decanter.
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Pour slowly. The purpose is to prevent serving sediment with your aged bottle of wine. You won't see all of it if you pour too quickly.
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Watch for sediment as you are pouring. This can be a fancy production by having a lit candle placed under the neck or a simple production by decanting your wine in a well-lit area.
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Stop pouring if you see sediment in the neck of the bottle. Put the bottle down and let the sediment settle to the bottom. When the sediment has settled down, begin pouring again.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have a candle handy, have someone hold a flashlight or lighter near the neck of the bottle.
Young wines can be decanted as well for the purpose of aeration. There is no sediment in young wine.
Drink wines more than 15 years old immediately after decanting. When very old wines are exposed to air for too long they will begin to oxidize rapidly and break down, resulting in glorified red wine vinegar.
The slower the better when pouring. This will ensure that the sediment remains on the bottom of the bottle and prevent you from having to double decant.
