Sediment decanting

Sediment decanting refers to the slow, careful transfer of a wine from its bottle into a carafe in order to separate it from the deposit that has settled at the base. Reserved for mature, cellared wines, it limits aeration to protect fragile tertiary aromas. A candle is often placed beneath the neck so the sommelier can watch the lees approach. The bottle stays tilted, and pouring stops the moment cloudiness reaches the shoulder.