Decanters for mature wines

Decanters for decanting mature wines

You have probably already drunk a wine that has a deposit at the bottom. And if this albeit natural deposit arrives in your glass and you accidentally drink it, you’re sure to grimace! This is what your decanter will avoid! These deposits can be found in both white and red wines, both young and mature. Deposits are perfectly normal and natural and are not sugar, but simply tartar crystals in young wines and colouring matter and tannins in older wines. They do not affect tasting in any way if they are carefully removed through decanting, using a special decanter that enables the deposits to be retained inside it.

Progress in modern oenology has made it possible to eliminate most defects, including deposits in young wines. However, due to age and storage defects, deposits may have appeared and must be removed to allow the wine to offer up all its qualities.

So what special features should my decanter have? Follow these recommendations: this decanter will have the particularity of having a short neck, in order to avoid over-oxygenation, which would be harmful to mature wine. The base of the decanter will be wide to allow the deposits to remain inside the decanter when the wine is poured. And finally, once filled, it will have a minimum surface area of contact with the ambient air, again to avoid unnecessary over-oxygenation.

How do I proceed to remove deposits from these mature wines? The goal is to leave as much deposit as possible inside the bottle during transfer. Start by leaving your bottle upright for a few hours so that the deposits settle and therefore fall to the bottom of the bottle. Some of the particles are very fine and will be retained by your decanter. Light a candle and gently tilt your bottle to the horizontal position to let the wine slide slowly down the sides of the decanter to avoid over-oxygenation. Take care not to empty the entire bottle, which will retain the tartar crystals, colouring matters and tannins!

Now all you have to do is choose the decanter that will beautifully enhance both your wines and your table.