Decanting is a polarizing topic in the still-wine world. The process is performed to separate sediment, and allow the wine to interact with oxygen or both. But when it comes to decanting Champagne, you can bet experts have opinions on the matter. And whether to decant the bubbly or not isn’t always clear.
While many producers, winemakers and sommeliers will tell you they never decant Champagne, there is a push for the practice among a niche group in the industry.
For instance, one winemaker recommends decanting some vintage Champagne or those which have a certain vinosity. Another shares that he decants his bottles when he is at lunch or dinner with friends. And yet another has advocated for decanting his wines one to two hours before serving.
Decanting Champagne can create a kind of blossoming of the aromas and soften the bubbles. It can reveal some aspect of oak barrels vinification or long aging on lees as well.”
One thing all parties can agree on, however, is that decanting is situational: There are certain times when it should be done, and times when it shouldn’t. And as with any wine, a matter of personal preference plays a role, too.
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Why Should You Decant Champagne?
Decanting provides time for the wine to develop naturally after being locked up in a bottle. This is especially important with sparkling wine, as bubbles can become aggressive upon disgorging the cork and cage, which will overpower the secondary and vinification aromas, explains Déhu.
When the Champagne spends time in a decanter, the bubbles have time to settle, thus becoming more refined.
When Should You Decant Champagne?
One Boston sommelier recommends decanting “powerful vintages that have years left in their life.”
Vintages like 2002 and 2008, for example, are good decanting candidates as they can present “aggressive bubbles.”
Decanting Champagne is best for serving a larger group. For example, with eight people, they will drink one glass and the bottle will be finished. Carafing will allow the Champagne to more fully express itself during the limited amount of time it will be drunk. Whereas if only three people are sharing a bottle, the wine will have more time to naturally take on air.
How Do You Decant Champagne?
Most sommeliers will chill the carafe in the refrigerator for two to three hours so that it’s the same temperature of the Champagne being served.
This is less violent to the bubbles than a carafe at room temperature where the difference between the temperature of the carafe and the Champagne will provoke an explosion of bubbles, and a resulting loss of effervescence.
If you’re going to decant, use a carafe with a long, thin neck so that you can gently pour the Champagne down the side and not lose too much effervescence with a lot of splashing into the decanter. Be sure to hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle.
Champagnes generally open more quickly than still wines. So, on average, it should be decanted no more than 15 to 30 minutes prior to serving.
When it comes to serving, most experts agreed you should delicately pour the decanted Champagne down the side of a universal or Burgundy glass. You want to allow the Champagne to express itself, which is not really possible in a Champagne flute.
Flutes are designed to show off the bubbles and their freshness. Wine glasses help you understand the Champagne much better.
When Shouldn’t You Decant Champagne?
But even Champagne-decanting advocates draw the line with certain bubbles, like older Champagnes. Older bottles should be allowed to open up as slow as possible to make sure that when drinking the Champagne, one is experiencing everything the wine has to offer.
Since old Champagnes have been in the bottle longer, you don’t want to disturb it too much as it can make the wine feel flat on the palate and the bubbles will dissipate faster. You want to protect its delicacy and keep whatever freshness it still has.
