Q: Do all red wines need to be decanted?
F. Pafford
Rome, Georgia

A: Decanting is usually reserved for older red wines, generally those older than 10 years from vintage date, to separate out any sediment deposited during the aging process. Decanting is also used to allow the wine to "breathe". This allows the flavors and nuances of the wine to develop and blossom as oxygen comes in contact with the wine. A good rule of thumb is that you don't want to do this more than an hour before you plan to drink or serve the wine. Again, this is usually reserved for older wines although it can be done with any red wine, if you choose.