To Decant, or Not to Decant: That is The Question!

In these days of screw top bottles and stainless steel tanks, many of us wonder if decanting is the province of wine-pomps only. Serving wine should be simple: just open and pour!

While there is a difference of opinion among wine experts, most agree it can be beneficial to decant your wine. Rumour has it that decanting can make a toughred reasonable and a great wine outstanding. In fact top reds need to be treated with the respect they deserve and routinely decanted. Not a difficult process either!

Decanting lets the wines breathe, improving their aroma and taste. Young wine that hasn’t been aerated can taste bitter and have a strong taste of alcohol. Allowing air to get across the surface area breaks up tannins and frees up the flavour of the wine. Fresh young things respond well as it is their flavour vibrancy which imparts the obvious difference (poured from bottle or from decanter).

So which wines need it? When to do it? And how?

Queensland Master of Wine Peter Scudamore-Smith says: “Yes! Decant your reds and even any full flavoured oak-aged white like chardonnay and white Rhone.”

“For whites, use a narrow base decanter to minimise air surface, and decant only for 1–2 hours.

“I pour my reds at the table from a decent receptacle instead of the

bottle. If it’s a young wine, I add a little pizzazz–technique: I aerate

the wine on pouring to stir it up; this freshens the wine as well.

Young wines are best decanted into flat base decanters with lots of

surface for the wine to absorb oxygen. Older reds and whites are

more fragile so choose a narrow base decanter to slow down any

potential oxidation from excess air exposure.

“If it’s an older wine, say over ten years, it will have spent most of its

life maturing in bottles and have an excess of solid matter. While the

sediment is harmless, it can ruin the colour and appeal. Separating

the sediment before serving does result in a clearer and smoother

wine. Have a steady hand and leave a small amount of wine and

sediment in the punt or bottle base.

“But you must exercise caution when decanting older, more delicate wines. Don’t let these beauties

aerate for too long, as oxygenation can turn the wine oxidised.

“If it’s a fifty year bottle just open, decant without the aerator and drink!”

Find yourself without a decanter? Swirl your glasses and open up the bouquet. Better yet, impress

your guests with at your next dinner party with a beautifully decanted wine served at the table. All

class!

1Here Peter’s using a French-designed Peugeot Grand Bouquet decanter. It’s a great shape for wines needing much air; and for prepping a Gianni BrunelliBrunello di Montalcino 2005.

You can read wine tasting reviews from Master of Wine Peter Scudamore-Smith here: www.uncorkedandcultivated.com.au/blog/

Peugeot Grand Bouquet decanter.Excellent shape for aerating wine.