If it's a white wine just drink the stuff. All tastes the same
If it's a red let it breath. You could decant it or pour it through an aerator as you mentioned.
A lower end of the market pinot noir that I sometimes drink tastes a bit yuck straight out of the bottle and even when poured through a aerator. But once it's oxidised it's marvellous. I just screw the top back on and try it the next evening. It's not even similar to what it was.
Your high end stuff is probably fine by just opening the bottle a few hours early.