How can I DECANT the WINE? What is the system or process? tnx
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
The purpose of decanting wine - in other words, pouring it from the bottle to some sort of carafe from which it will be served - is to remove the wine from sediment which may have precipitated during aging and/or to aerate or "open" a still youthful wine so that it is more revealing and enjoyable. There is certainly no reason to decant the vast majority of wines - unless you just like the visual appeal of wine in a decanter.
If you are dealing with an older wine with sediment, it will be best to stand the bottle up overnight so that the deposit settles at the base. Then, carefully cut the capsule, wipe the lip, and gently and slowly pour the wine into a decanter. It helps to do this with bright light shining on the neck of the bottle so that you can stop pouring when the sediment begins to darken the wine. Traditionally, a candle was used, but any small lamp or flashlight will be fine. I find that a paper towel placed on a table directly below the neck is very helpful as it is easy to see the sediment against the white background (and the paper also serves to catch any drips). If the wine is young or without sediment, then all you need to do is pour it into the decanter. Bear in mind that the longer the wine sits in a decanter, the more it is exposed to air, with resulting changes; some powerful wines seem to improve with airing while others may deteriorate rather quickly.
