Pouring basket

The pouring basket holds a bottle of aged wine in a near-horizontal position, close to how it lay in the cellar, so it can be served without disturbing the sediment. The wine then passes gently from bottle to glass while the lees stay at the base. Usually made of wicker or metal, it also presents the label to the guest. It offers an alternative to decanting when the sommelier prefers not to transfer a very old bottle.