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Len,

This is the reason why a red wine bottle is shaped differently than a white wine bottle. Next time you are browsing the racks at your local wine merchant, notice how the red wine bottle has a sharp curve below the neck. This is intended to hold back the sediment as you pour. Contrast this with a white wine bottle, which has a smooth taper all the way to the neck.

An inch of sediment is a lot but the good ones will throw a ton and it doesn't diminsh from the enjoyment in the slightest. Decanting them tends to increase the rate of oxidation, and pouring across a coffee filter can foul the taste due to the bleach used in the filter. The old fashioned way is to slowly pour, using a candle on the far side so you can see what you are doing.

Try it on an old red!