Wine: Decanting white wine

[Mike Buckley]

Winery: Chappellet
Year: 2012
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, California

I made this photo for two reasons. I had already made a similar photo in this thread but the four glasses make the image a little busier than most of my studio shots. So, I made this image using only two glasses resulting in a composition that is a bit more straightforward. The other reason has to do with the fact that very few people have heard of decanting white wine. I wanted to show that white wines such as the big Chardonnays made in California are often rounder and smoother after spending time in a decanter.

I drank this wine before dinner tonight without decanting it. I'll try the decanted bottle tomorrow night with the expectation that it will be better. We'll see.

By the way, this may be the only photo on the Internet of white wine being decanted.

EDIT: John and L. Paul explained that the white foil in the photo is not an ideal fit with the other colors. So, I bought a different bottle of wine and shot the second photo shown below. Their recommendation improves the image, so thank you to both of them!

[FootLoose]

This is quite a complex composition, Mike, that is best viewed large in Lytebox. From the drop dripping from the lip of the bottle, to the mesmerising reflections in the bottom of the glasses, and the turbulence in the decanter - there is a lot to look at. But combine that with the seductive colour pallette and the clarity of the capture... well, I think you could slap a brand name on it, and I would expect to see it in a glossy magazine.

And, I forgot to say, I do like it.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Greg! You make me blush!

[John 2]

Very nicely shot mike and I only have one thought. The tones and colours of the bottle neck form a hard contrast that jars a bit against what are delicate, almost pastel colours of the wine the glassware and the BG. Not true of your original composition (the link). Perhaps removing the white collar from the bottle might be worthwhile. Go-on, gives you an excuse to open another bottle (as if you needed it ).

[pnodrog]

If you buy a quality wine in a screw top bottle you will not need to decant it and also avoid wasting 3 or 4 ml in a decanter....

I agree with John 2 in that the white plastic wrap is a bit harsh compared to the rest of the tones. You must look forward to tidying up your little studio after a photo session. In fact it maybe one duty I would be prepared to lend a mouth to.

The top of the decanter keeps changing it's perspective as I study it. In one perspective you are at the very least going to spill the drop. (actually it does not work but makes it rather interesting)

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John and L. Paul!

Interestingly, I chose the bottle with the white foil partly because I felt the color of the foil draws the eye to the top of the photo. I wanted that to emphasize the height of the decanter and the entry of the wine into the decanter. I have a favorite white wine that has yellow foil, so I'll try that even though I would never decant this particular wine.

I wouldn't remove all of the foil for a photo because, for me, the foil is one of the aesthetic markings of the presentation of the wine. I have had to occasionally remove all of the foil when I was unable to cut only the top off but that was never ideal.

L. Paul: I don't understand your logic that a quality wine with a screw top doesn't need decanting. As for the perspective of the decanter's top, I don't have the issue that you mentioned for this particular photo though I have experienced it with at least one other photo that we discussed; the "lower" rim of the decanter is clearly behind the pour and the "upper" rim is clearly in front of it to my eyes. And by the way, the residual wine left in the decanter is never wasted; I drink the wine directly from the decanter.

[Mike Buckley]

Uh oh. I just now realized that the wine bottle that I was going to use because of its yellow foil won't work. That's because the glass has a green cast to it that is objectionable. It seems that I need to wander up and down the Chardonnay aisle at my local wine super store to find the ideal wine bottle, one that has brownish glass and a yellow or brown foil.

[Brownbear]

Gorgeous image! Everything about it. I also especially find the single drop of wine falling off of the rim, and it's reflection (but it could be another drop) inside the bottle fascinating.

[Loose Canon]

I think this is a great angle to shoot this shot from Mike.

Gives it a "Larger than Life" hero look.

Nice job man.

[Mike Buckley]

Glad you like that perspective, Terry!

I have added a second photo to the first post in the thread, thanks to the suggestion made by John and L. Paul to use a bottle with a color of the foil that is a better fit with the rest of the image.

[davidedric]

Hi Mike, love the images and the gold foil certainly does balance better.

I'm not sure whether it is what L.paul was referring to, but to my eyes the wine is being poured through the back of the decanter neck. I think it's one of those things that once it is in your head just won't go away.


Dave

[ShaneS]

What a difference the color of the foil made to this image! I also prefer the movement of the wine in the second shot Mike.

Nicely imagined and executed

[Mike Buckley]

The verdict is in: There was no detectable difference in taste of the bottles of the same wine that were decanted and not. While decanting doesn't always help, I've never experienced a situation when decanting hurt a wine. However, I did meet a man who never decants red or white wine because decanting is always detrimental to the aroma for him. Aroma doesn't matter to me because my nose is so ineffective that I never smell anything.

[Digital]

Mike, very nice images, and after you are finished you get to drink your subject.


Bruce

[pnodrog]

Thank you to John and L. Paul!

........

L. Paul: I don't understand your logic that a quality wine with a screw top doesn't need decanting. As for the perspective of the decanter's top, I don't have the issue that you mentioned for this particular photo though I have experienced it with at least one other photo that we discussed; the "lower" rim of the decanter is clearly behind the pour and the "upper" rim is clearly in front of it to my eyes. And by the way, the residual wine left in the decanter is never wasted; I drink the wine directly from the decanter.

Whats logic got do with CinC comments.... However some clumsy people need to decant through a gauze because they butcher a cork and end up with it floating in the wine. This as far as I know never happens with a screw top bottle.

Surely for maximum efficiency drinking directly from the bottle wastes the least. I suppose without glasses and decanters your opportunities for creative photography are somewhat diminished.

Hi Mike, love the images and the gold foil certainly does balance better.

I'm not sure whether it is what L.paul was referring to, but to my eyes the wine is being poured through the back of the decanter neck. I think it's one of those things that once it is in your head just won't go away.


Dave

Dave I am very relieved to know someone in the northern hemisphere can see the same effect.

[FootLoose]

I find the increased turbulence in 2nd shot more attractive, and those two drops under the right side give it more character too.

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to everyone!

L. Paul: Pouring the wine into the decanter is the aerating process. Leaving it there for 30 minutes to 2 hours is the decanting process. Pouring the wine through a filter to extract the bits of cork is the filtering process, though it surely provides the added benefit of also aerating the wine and decanting it if left in a decanter.

those two drops under the right side give it more character too.

I was beginning to think nobody would notice. I was going to eliminate them but decided they add a perfect touch, which explains why I also decided not to eliminate the drop(s) on the right, outside neck of the decanter.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

Just to say that I too prefer the 2nd image with the gold foil wrap. The colour complements the wine beautifully. (And I also love the colour of the wine in this image) I also adore the swirls of wine inside the decanter and the two drops. That said I still think the 1st image is gorgeous but along came this one...

[Mike Buckley]

Just to say that I too prefer the 2nd image with the gold foil wrap.

No doubt about it. On the one hand, I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't realize the white foil in the first image would be less than ideal, especially considering that I chose it because I thought it would be ideal. On the other hand, this is not at all my first image that was improved thanks to all the folks at CiC.