decanting time

[russiangourmet]

Hello,

What is normally the max. time allowed for decanting the reds once the bottle's opened?

Thank you.

[Innkeeper]

Hi Russian Gourmet, and welcome to the Wine Board. It depends on many factors. If it is an aged out red with sediment, you want to drink it as quickly as possible after decanting because the wine is apt to deteriorate quickly.

If it is a young wine you are decanting for aeration, it depends on how young it is in relation to normal aging.

If it is one of the 90% plus wines that are ready to consume on release, you can just pour it into the decanter with abandon and drink.

Wine that needs some time you need to guess how much time and decant from a half hour to an hour per missing year of age.

For example you buy a Crozes Hermitage that normally drinks well at five years. The vintage is '04; and you buy it in '07. If you want to drink it in '07 you are missing two years. Therefore you need to decant it for one to two hours. If time allows, I would give it the full two hours.

[russiangourmet]

Hello,

Many thanks for your comments!

Yet another request: I'm looking for a quality (efficient) decanter as the one I currently have is a simple, cheap one. Could you recommend a credible source re. decanter shapes and types?

[wondersofwine]

I like the duck shape (wide at bottom for aeration but narrower in the neck). Watch out for lead crystal content and don't leave in the decanter overnight if high in lead content (probably not best to leave overnight anyway--refrigerate leftover wine in a recorked bottle and take out before dinner to let it rewarm a bit if a red wine).

[russiangourmet]

Thanks!

Btw, speaking of lead crystal decanters and glasses: does the content (level) of lead crystal make any gustatory difference?