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General Decanting Question - 10/21/2008 12:00:04 PM

gbm

Posts: 229
Joined: 3/12/2008
From: Connecticut
Status: offline

How do you determine whether to decant a wine and, if you decant, how long?

Post #: 1

RE: General Decanting Question - 10/21/2008 12:25:32 PM

Colonel Lawrence

Posts: 2093
Joined: 4/24/2006
From: Arabia
Status: offline

This is like a Holy Grail question.
You'll get lots of answers, because everyone is searching.
But all contradictory and none proveably right.
It's the right question though.
L.

(in reply to gbm)

Post #: 2

RE: General Decanting Question - 10/21/2008 12:44:03 PM

gbm

Posts: 229
Joined: 3/12/2008
From: Connecticut
Status: offline

Thanks, Colonel.

I have two failsafe methods, but netiher is all that useful in practice.

(1) Prior experiences.
(2) Take a sip after you pop the cork and then a small taste every couple hours.

The first is rare for me given that I'm experimenting and the second never gets timed quite right.

(in reply to Colonel Lawrence)

Post #: 3

RE: General Decanting Question - 10/21/2008 1:07:02 PM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 314
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline

I find that most wines benefit from some air, especially younger wines. I typically decant most wines for about an hour the first time that I drink them. If I have more of the same, I know to decant more or less (it's usually more).

The exception was a wine that had already reached its peak and got a bit flabby with the extra air. That happens so rarely that I always lean towards more air.

_____________________________

The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

(in reply to gbm)

Post #: 4

RE: General Decanting Question - 10/21/2008 1:07:32 PM

Colonel Lawrence

Posts: 2093
Joined: 4/24/2006
From: Arabia
Status: offline

I've been shocked by the weird behaviours confessed to on CT!
First it was leaving some in the bottle and finishing it the next day.
Who leaves wine in the bottle?
Now we have the shake and vac type ideas.
I confess I'm dying to try some.
I open the bottle, take a big gulp, and then share it with my guests a number of hours later.
Second thoughts I may have done this before .................
Used to blame evaporation.
L.

(in reply to gbm)

Post #: 5

RE: General Decanting Question - 10/22/2008 1:02:31 AM

pjaines

Posts: 921
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: online

Evaporation? The French call it "The Angel's Share".

_____________________________

-- Paul

(in reply to Colonel Lawrence)

Post #: 6

RE: General Decanting Question - 10/22/2008 6:58:24 AM

Wrighty

Posts: 768
Joined: 10/3/2005
From: Hong Kong
Status: offline

If I've just got home at it looks like I'm about to commit a massacre (on the wine, not the wife) it gets splashed in a carafe. If I'm organised then it gets decanted 1 to 2 hours before serving. If it's a house wine then I might put it in the carafe or just pur from the bottle (I never swig from the bottle though, well only at the end of the night!).

Wrighty

(in reply to pjaines)

Post #: 7