How to open an older bottle

Older wines throw a sediment and their corks get soft. A little care is all it takes (sample note).

Stand the bottle upright the day before. Use a two-step corkscrew and pull slowly; if the cork breaks, push the rest through and pour through a coffee filter.

Pour slowly into a jug against a light and stop when the sediment reaches the neck. Taste before you decide to decant longer: old wines can fade in the glass.