Zalto Decanter Axium

The smaller of Zalto's two decanters, a plain shape that puts function ahead of display.

Zalto Glas is a family glassworks in Austria's Kremstal, where every piece is mouth-blown by hand and made without lead, the bowls angled to 24, 48 and 72 degrees after the tilt of the earth. Where some makers push decanter design towards flamboyant objets d'art, Zalto makes two, both simple and both built to be used. The Axium is the smaller, and its more contained shape suits wines that want air without wanting a great deal of it: medium-bodied reds, and medium to full-bodied whites that open with a little exposure but lose definition if left to spread. It looks well on the table and handles well in the hand, which matters more than it sounds when a decanter is full, and it pours and drains without fuss. For what it is, it remains remarkably good value.

Use it for medium-bodied reds and for medium to full-bodied whites. Hand-wash in warm water without detergent and dry with a lint-free cloth.