Comments on: What a Difference a Decanter Makes

By: Luis

Luis — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:03:37 +0000

Michael

my rabbit corkscrew does two things, uncorks wine and removes cork from worm (or recorks wine). It is a two step process, when you pull once it opens and automatically locks to remove when you pull the second time. it may be that you offset it and it is locked in remove cork. just try it several times in a row and it should work. I had that problem before

By: Hubbard Page

Hubbard Page — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:38:09 +0000

Hi Terry, this is not too complex a job if you have the right tools. 1) A decanter cleaning brush, 2) A set of decanter cleaning beads, and 3) Stemshine Liquid. A specially formulated detergent. You really need all three of these, especially for those with multiple curves. All these products are available, suprise!, from Wine Enthusiast. Do note that you should take care using the cleaning beads anywhere near a sink.They seem to have eyes-for-the-drain! Also, be sure to rinse at least three times to eliminate any aftertaste from the cleaning process. So now go for it and enjoy!

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:15:36 +0000

I have looked at those fancy shaped decantors and wondered how do you keep them clean? I have a decantor brush but find it difficult to clean even my basic shaped decantors. Can anyone give me advice on how to clean the fancy shaped decantors so I feel comfortable enought to buy one?

By: Erika S.

Erika S. — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:34:51 +0000

Hi Mark, that’s false. I don’t know of any instance in which you should shake your wine.

By: mark

mark — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:02:04 +0000

I was recently presented with a gift of a bottle of 1984 Stag’s Leap Fay and was told to shake the bottle briskly before decanting. True or false?

By: Marshall (Wine Enthusiast Wine Storage Consultant)

Marshall (Wine Enthusiast Wine Storage Consultant) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:27:53 +0000

Regarding your Rabbit Corkscrew Michael, the problem may simply be that you need to replace the worm (the twisted screw that goes into the cork). They only last so long and after some time (a year or more) may lose the ability to grab on to the cork. They are available if you click on this link and are quite simple to replace. Good luck, and feel free to email me directly with any questions.
http://www.wineenthusiast.com/E/details.asp?Ep=An/0//A/13280

By: Erika S.

Erika S. — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:30:13 +0000

@Ed Mirise
air or oxygen is both a friend and an enemy of wine. Exposure to air can open a wine, revealing new flavors and aromas but too much can spoil it, rendering it oxydized. If a wine becomes oxydized it will actually lose all of those wonderful aromas that it initially developed. Taste your wine periodically as it decants. If it seems at its peak (i.e. the bouquet has developed), it may be time to use that decanter stopper.

By: Ed Mirise

Ed Mirise — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:24:06 +0000

I have never heard of the wine being aerated “too long” thus the need for a decanter stopper. How are you learn when ‘enough is enough?’

By: Erika S.

Erika S. — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:12:00 +0000

@Hubbard Page
Yes, definitely a great habit to get into. Who wants to waste their time decanting a corked bottle of wine? Certainly smell and taste before pouring it out.

@Colin Lukens
Great analogy!

@Donald Harris
Great question. Though a wine can certainly open up in a glass with a wide bowl, a decanter has a much larger surface area, allowing the wine to aerate even more. Moreover, if you use an aerating funnel, you’ll spread out the wine even more, allowing it to soften further.

@DrDebs
Thanks! Nice to see you here and that’s a really neat post, I hadn’t seen it before.

@Robert Danneger
I agree, in the U.S. we tend to drink reds too hot and whites too cold. Chilling your red a bit prior to decanting isn’t such a bad idea, though I personally have not tried it.

By: Erika S.

Erika S. — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:25:17 +0000

@Michael– Sorry to hear about the problem with the rabbit corkscrew. Are you making sure to squeeze the “ears” tightly as you pull up? This is what will force the cork to come up along with the screw.