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**Emaresee** · 26-07-2016, 11:20 AM

A wine decanter is only really worth buying if you have a need to decant off sediment. Sediment is traditionally thrown by heavier red's, albeit over time most quality red, vintage wines will throw some degree of sediment.

Decanters can be acquired for pennies in the pound in most charity shops - particularly stoppered ones for spirits - as they aren't so popular these days. Cut lead crystal seems to be the least popular!

When I decant and need to leave some undrunk wine over night, I tend to block the neck of the decanter with a ball of kitchen roll, and cover the top with cellophane.

**Scooby** · 26-07-2016, 12:22 PM

[MENTION=13453624]WDave40[/MENTION] Yes, the spray is great and not only for wine, it can be used on part bottles of spirits too

**Krist** · 26-07-2016, 07:42 PM

I don't usually leave a bottle for the next day as my better half and I share, and I'll happily finish it off.

I always decant my wine! And I use an aerator and try to leave it at least an hour. I've drank a bottle that's just been opened for a day without cork and for heavy Spanish wines I think the time improves it.

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**ACMCC** · 26-07-2016, 10:13 PM

A decanter of this design: http://www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/...C.html#SID=960 will maximise the aeration, you could pour half your bottle into this decanter and then the other half into a small screw top glass bottle of 375ml (never plastic) filled to the top with a sealed screw cap. This decanter will improve the taste of even modern ready to drink table wine, helping to remove some of the bitterness or hard edge allowing the palate to detect more subtle tones (opening up).
If you compare the two you will detect the difference.

There's been a good wine programme on the TV lately called The Wine Show which I would recommend, they have been testing a few gadgets which have looked interesting.

**Emaresee** · 26-07-2016, 11:36 PM

Have loved the wine show... Right balance of proper wine insight, good wine chat, and then genuine enjoyment. Not too much w@nky wine stuff that some other programmes have got caught up with in the past. Very approachable for any one interested in wine. All on the itv player i beleive...

**ValeTudoGuy** · 27-07-2016, 09:01 AM

Opening and pouring into a glass is about as much aeration as a wine needs IMO. I have tried leaving wines open and aerating etc, but i find they oxidize and lose something.

But then I quite like a rough and in your face red, cheap Bordeaux table wines are often better than the expensive declared years in my opinion and ballsy young Tempranillo or Priorat at ?8-15 a bottle is often better than a lot of the stuff being sold at 2-3x the price for me too.

Im pretty glad to be a cheap date as they say.

One thing I will say is that I very very rarely find a US or Australian wine I like, in fact I can't actually think of one... They have all been pretty shit.

Pretty rare to find a New Zealand or South African either but I have had a little more luck, Argentina, Chile, France and Spain seem to be the red producing countries I enjoy the most, with Greece, Portugal, Hungary and Italy somewhere behind.

I have however been reccomended to hunt some wines down from Romania and FYRO Macedonia, but havebt got round to it yet.

**WDave40** · 27-07-2016, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by ValeTudoGuy View Post

Opening and pouring into a glass is about as much aeration as a wine needs IMO. I have tried leaving wines open and aerating etc, but i find they oxidize and lose something.

But then I quite like a rough and in your face red, cheap Bordeaux table wines are often better than the expensive declared years in my opinion and ballsy young Tempranillo or Priorat at ?8-15 a bottle is often better than a lot of the stuff being sold at 2-3x the price for me too.

Im pretty glad to be a cheap date as they say.

One thing I will say is that I very very rarely find a US or Australian wine I like, in fact I can't actually think of one... They have all been pretty shit.

Pretty rare to find a New Zealand or South African either but I have had a little more luck, Argentina, Chile, France and Spain seem to be the red producing countries I enjoy the most, with Greece, Portugal, Hungary and Italy somewhere behind.

I have however been reccomended to hunt some wines down from Romania and FYRO Macedonia, but havebt got round to it yet.

Further to those two countries, I'd also highly recommend Georgian wine if you can get some. Some beautiful reds from there

**ValeTudoGuy** · 27-07-2016, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by WDave40 View Post

Further to those two countries, I'd also highly recommend Georgian wine if you can get some. Some beautiful reds from there

Now that you mention, when I was last in Barcelona we really got on with a Georgian waiter he [tongue firmly in cheek] said im very sorry but we only have Spanish wine because we keep all the good stuff back home in Georgia.

Thanks for reminding me. It's on my list.

**Emaresee** · 27-07-2016, 02:58 PM

bold call shouting out aussie reds as mostly pretty shit... !!!

I'm not going to contest your personal preferences... frankly what ever tastes right to you is right.... black tower still sells....

**ValeTudoGuy** · 27-07-2016, 04:24 PM

Yep, I just dont get Australian red's. I know people love them.... I have just stopped wasting my money, they do nothing for me.

**SHAMZ84** · 27-07-2016, 04:46 PM

SA and Italian Reds are my normal wines..

If you guys every go SA, highly recommend there wine tours...so much fun and you taste some great wines out there for not even ?35

**Emaresee** · 27-07-2016, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by ValeTudoGuy View Post

Yep, I just dont get Australian red's. I know people love them.... I have just stopped wasting my money, they do nothing for me.

Almost anything peter lehman has made, or chester osbourne at d'Arenburg is worth trying. But looking at your preferences it might all be a bit too full n fruity. You seem to favour regions where a bolder tanic structure is the prevailing taste... Something more austere than fruity. Which would pretty much make oz a no no. Nz too. Tried californian zinfandel? Saddle leather flavours... Bit more restrained. How about good argentinian malbec? Or is that too bold n big? It's certainly got grip n structure.

**ValeTudoGuy** · 28-07-2016, 07:53 AM

Really not a fan of any Zinfandels I have tried, I really like a few Argentine Tempranillo I have had, La Linda 2011 is one of my favourite wines I have had and they do a Malbec too so will look at that.

Had a great Chillian Cab Sauv from Naked wines, it was a Jean Pascal Lacaze, 2012 or 13 can't quite recall.

Best wine recently has been Loidana Priorat 2012 and had an ok New Zealand Hawks Bay Syrah from Lidl which was one of the first Southern Hemisphere wines I would get again [not that I would rush out for it]

I notice waitrose do some Lehman and I can't specifically remember trying any so will pop out later. [MENTION=13436219]Emaresee[/MENTION]

**Emaresee** · 28-07-2016, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by ValeTudoGuy View Post

Really not a fan of any Zinfandels I have tried, I really like a few Argentine Tempranillo I have had, La Linda 2011 is one of my favourite wines I have had and they do a Malbec too so will look at that.

Had a great Chillian Cab Sauv from Naked wines, it was a Jean Pascal Lacaze, 2012 or 13 can't quite recall.

Best wine recently has been Loidana Priorat 2012 and had an ok New Zealand Hawks Bay Syrah from Lidl which was one of the first Southern Hemisphere wines I would get again [not that I would rush out for it]

I notice waitrose do some Lehman and I can't specifically remember trying any so will pop out later. @Emaresee

are you close to a Laithwaites?

If so have a look at these..

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http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/The-Waxed-Bat-Shiraz-Cabernet-Malbec-2015/66894

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http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/The-Black-Stump-Durif-Shiraz-2015/66819

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http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Westend-Estate-The-Boxer-Durif-2015/66984

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http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Corsiero-Nero-2014/65796

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http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/The-Forefather-Gran-Selecci?n-Malbec-Shiraz-2013/66463

these are all big bold and luscious... some with that more tannic edge than others. the Coriero Nero and the Forefather are particular favourites.